Soulful journey

Dee Jaroway learned hunger doesn’t take a summer vacation.

For the past two weeks, the radio personality has been driving across eastern Canada to collect food donations. The co-host of Rock 94’s Mark and Dee Morning Show returned late last week from her two-week Feed My Soul food drive.

Jaroway travelled from Kia headquarters in Mississauga to Halifax, making stops along the way, in a Kia Soul SX she won in an international Facebook contest.

“The people that came out to donate money and food, it was unbelievable,” she said Monday at Performance Kia on 13th Avenue where she was wrapping up the Feed My Soul tour.

People had until 6 p.m. Monday to drop off food items or make monetary donations. By 4 p.m. they had raised almost $8,100 for the Regional Food Distribution Association.

“Thunder Bay did show up and we actually surpassed even headquarters, which came out with the highest numbers,” Jaroway said. “They had more than 1,600 food items but we have completely gone above and beyond that.”

While Jaroway and her three travelling companions enjoyed the sights of Canadian landmarks, like the Hopewell Rocks and Green Gables, Jaroway said what she learned on the journey was that people are using food banks more than they ever have before.

“I’m noticing in places like, for example, Halifax, they feed 30,000 people per month,” she said. “They’re constantly looking for donations … it’s a need 24/7, all year round.”

Local food banks are seeing about 8,400 people per month this year. That’s an increase of 15 per cent from last year, said the RFDA’s executive director Volker Kromm.

“Dee’s my hero,” he said. “This is one of those things that in the middle of summer when we are really desperate for food, this comes at a very good time. I appreciate her efforts in raising the awareness and also bringing in food.”

“It makes people realize the need is there,” Kromm added. “This is important to us.”