Whether it be canned goods, pasta, or fresh vegetables, the London Food Bank is hoping Londoners will open their hearts and cupboards to donate to its annual Thanksgiving Food Drive.
The 29th annual drive kicks off Saturday and runs until Thanksgiving Monday. Food collected will not only ensure every Londoner enjoys a meal on the October holiday but will keep food bank shelves stocked until Christmas.
The food bank serves roughly 3,500 families a month and co-executive director Glen Pearson notes those numbers are starting to rise.
"The recent census data that came out the other week said a ton about how London is challenged with poverty, about homelessness," said Pearson. "What we are predicting is that London is about to go through a really difficult time. It could get worse and we as a food bank have to be prepared for that. Not just in the families that we help but in the over 20 other agencies that we also assist. They will also be really hard pressed."
Since the food bank came into existence 31 years ago, Pearson has seen a shift in the people who rely on its serves.
"It used to be mostly people on social assistance but the economy has changed so much," said Pearson. "It is hard to define people anymore who are needing food bank help. 80% of the work force in Ontario in the new jobs that have been created since 2008 are either part time or temporary so what we are seeing is more and more of an increase of people who are in minimum wage jobs. That is a big change."
Pearson said there has also been an increase in the number of seniors coming to the food bank over the past year.
The Thanksgiving drive brought in 87,368 lbs of food last year, 60% of which was distributed to non-profit agencies, like the Boys and Girls Club, Salvation Army, and St. Paul’s Daily Bread.
Donations can be dropped off at any London fire hall, grocery stores, or at the London Food Bank warehouse at 926 Leathorne St.
