The warehouse floor at Toronto's Daily Bread Food Bank was bustling with activity on Saturday as volunteers and staff worked to sort donated food that will be distributed over the Thanksgiving weekend.

150 volunteers worked a 2-hour shift in the morning, before another group took over in the afternoon.  Over the 4 hours, they sorted an estimated 60,000 lbs. of food, which will be shipped out to more than 170 food pick-up sites and soup kitchens across the city.

The process will be repeated on Thanksgiving Monday.

Floor manager Kelly Haggarty gives the volunteers their orientation and explains that there's more to the job than job than just lifting.

Haggarty says volunteers need to watch out for opened peanut butter jars because he says people tend to donate brands they try and don't like.

"The cap will be off and you'll see that a finger or a spoon or sometimes a fork has gone right through it," he says.

Volunteers also have to watch for best-before dates, broken seals and decipher packaging written in different languages.

Among the volunteers pitching in on Saturday were a handful of members of Canada's Olympic team.

Trampolinist Jason Burnett says he's glad to help out.

"The community does a lot to help out athletes and there's always a lot of support back home so its good to come back here and give a little bit back," he says.

The Food Bank is hoping to meet its holiday goal of $400,000 in cash donations and 400,000 lbs. of food.

Last year's campaign fell short of that goal but Sarah Anderson with the Daily Bread Food Bank is optimistic this year will be different.

"Thanksgiving tends to be a big reminder for people that its important to give and we've still got a week to reach those goals," she says.

As of Saturday morning, the group has collected $215,000 and 118,000 lbs. of food in this year's drive.  

Anderson says demand for Food Bank services is up 4% over last year and 18% over the past 4 years, corresponding with the beginning of the recession.

Floor manager Kelly Haggarty gives the volunteers their orientation and explains that there's more to the job than job than just lifting.

If you're out and about doing some turkey shopping today, you can drop off donations at fire halls and participating grocery stores.

You can find more information on the food bank's website.

(with files from Justine Lewkowicz)