The Current ‘Make the Season Kind’ with CBC
Dec 5, 2025
Anne Penman, a longtime CBC producer, discusses her decades-long role in leading the Make the Season Kind campaign to support food banks in British Columbia. She highlights the increasing demand for food assistance, with more families and young people relying on these vital services. Anne shares heartening stories of community kindness and the welcoming atmosphere in food banks. Her insights reveal how innovation and partnerships help meet rising needs, while reflecting on the powerful impact of kindness in addressing food insecurity.
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Client Story: Escaping Abuse And Relying On Help
- Marie described using the food bank after leaving an abusive relationship and waiting for child support to stabilize her finances.
- She said the food bank's non-judgmental support helped her keep essentials like heat and rent together.
Food Bank Demand Is Growing And Broad
- Anne Penman reported longer lineups with more young people and families, and nearly 20% of BC food bank users are employed.
- Foodbanks Canada says over 2 million people use food banks monthly in 2025, with one in three being children.
Rescuing Damaged Fruit With Freeze Drying
- David Long's team bought a freeze dryer to preserve $45,000 of hail-damaged apricots and extended their shelf life to ten years.
- That rescued food was repurposed instead of going to landfill and boosted nutritious options for clients.