‘It’s a beautiful thing’: Michael Bublé lends a hand at Greater Vancouver Food Bank

B.C. crooner Michael Bublé came out to support the Greater Vancouver Food Bank’s seniors program on Thursday night.

Clients at the Greater Vancouver Food Bank were in for a surprise this week when a holiday music favourite showed up to help hand out goods.

Burnaby’s own Michael Bublé made an appearance Thursday to distribute packages to seniors and launched a virtual food drive to help make the season brighter for people across the Lower Mainland.

“I come from a beautiful place, and you know, obviously, I never left,” the singer told CTV News. “So being part of this amazing community, I feel very lucky that I could come and use my platform to be able to share what a wonderful place (the GVFB) is.”

Bublé said he met two of his Burnaby neighbours while volunteering, a couple of “gorgeous” seniors that reminded him of his own family, and parents with children.

“I get goosebumps,” he said. “It’s a beautiful thing.”

A fundraiser in Bublé’s name has garnered more than $12,000 in donations as of Saturday, and the charity says it can maximize impact by doubling the buying power of each dollar received.

The GVFB says it saw more than 800,000 visits last year across its distribution centres and roughly 160 partner agencies, and 75 per cent of the food it gives out is fresh.

“It was really emotional to come here, and it’s the first time, it won’t be the last time,” Bublé said. “And listen, we are in a cynical world that’s tough, and we need more light and we need more humanity.”