$347Ok raised and counting: It was a vacation social gathering on Metro Morning for Sounds of the Season

Does your idea of ​​holiday cheer include Bugs Bunny breaking up with your not-so-special someone on your behalf? Or perhaps a more traditional birthday or congratulations message?

Eric Bauza, a Scarborough-born voice actor and the official voice of Bugs Bunny and some of his friends, is giving away a video or voice message to help raise funds for local food banks.

“We are giving,” Bauza said, slipping in and out of his Bugs Bunny voice. “It’s that time of year!”

It was Sounds of the Season morning at CBC Toronto, as Metro Morning hosted a holiday special in front of a live studio audience at the Glenn Gould Studio.

WATCH | Here are the highlights from a festive morning at the Glenn Gould Studio:

Metro Morning’s special Sounds of the Season broadcast in 60 seconds

Here are the highlights of Metro Morning’s special holiday broadcast in front of a live studio audience at the Glenn Gould Studio on Friday in support of local food banks.

The annual festive fundraiser, which runs every month, is in support of local food banks.

Metro Morning’s Ismaila Alfa hosted Friday morning’s show, which began dark and early at 5:30 am ET. There was music from Aqyila, TRP.P, Chad Price, and the Strumbellas — alongside the voice of Bugs Bunny.

From 7:30 to 8:30 am, donations up to $35,000 were matched by regular Daily Bread Food Bank donors Jan Oudenes and Isobel Ralston. For the duo, Sounds of the Season has become a tradition that sees them trekking down in the wee hours of the morning to get their seat at the Toronto Broadcasting Centre.

Torontonians fill the Glenn Gould Studio to help raise funds for local food banks. (Martin Trainor/CBC)

Those working to keep food on the table for vulnerable Torontonians and those who have found themselves seeking support at food banks joined the broadcast to share their experiences.

Enitan Ayaji is a former food bank user who now works full-time as a kitchen assistant at Daily Bread Food Bank, in addition to being a part-time student in food insecurity at Toronto Metropolitan University.

Ayaji was first motivated to volunteer after almost losing her son, she said. When he survived she said, “I’m going to do anything to say, ‘thank you God.'”

When she googled Daily Bread Food Bank and realized she’d been a past beneficiary, it just felt right. It was her chance, she said, to “do something good for my community.”

CBC host John Northcott delivers the news during the 2022 Sounds of the Season. (Martin Trainor/CBC)

More people across the city — and all across Ontario — are turning to food banks this year.

“Don’t give up,” encouraged Ayaji, “Just do your best.”

That is what people are trying to do, Feed Ontario’s Carolyn Stewart recently told CBC News.

“But it’s virtually impossible to afford everything, and so people are having to turn to food banks for help,” she said.

“And as much as food banks are the first people to say they wish we didn’t have to exist and we would gladly close our doors if the need was not there, the need just continues to grow,” she said.

If you want to donate food or money to the cause you can find more information about that here. You’ll also find out about the various prizes you can try to win during the month-long fundraising campaign.

So far, generous Torontonians — with the help of several banks — have already donated more than $347,810.

WATCH | A Toronto food bank user takes you inside the service she uses and explains her concerns for the future:

Go inside a Toronto food bank with a user who says it’s busier than ever

‘Everybody is struggling right now’ Sue-Ellen Patcheson told CBC Toronto, as more people with jobs seek support when it comes to getting meals on the table