In the lead up to Christmas, businesses across the city are working to stock the shelves of the London Food Bank.
The 19th edition of the Business Cares Food Drive kicked off Friday at Western University. The three-week drive sees companies, big and small, join together to collect food and monetary donations for the food bank.
"We are hoping for an excess of 500 businesses to take part this year. As of right now, we have well over 200 that are registered," said Campaign Chair Wayne Dunn. "Last year, between 500 and 550 companies participated and in addition to that, we had 700 volunteers throughout the campaign. It really is a community effort all the way through."
The food drive aims to surpass, by at least one pound, its 2017 total of 435,400 pounds of food collected.
"It's a lofty goal that we are trying to get, but every year we have met our goal and exceeded it. So I am hopeful this year will be no different," said Dunn.
The launch of the 2018 campaign included a special performance by students from the Grand Theatre’s High School Project production of Prom Queen: The Musical. Food drive organizers stated the students' campaign performance highlighted how, collectively, the community is better positioned to support those in need.
For the second year in a row, the Grand will end each performance of A Christmas Carol with a call to action for the audience to donate to the food drive as they leave the theatre.
Volunteers with the Business Cares Food Drive will be outside of 24 city grocery stores handing out donation bags for shoppers to fill with non-perishable donations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Other special events planned throughout the food drive include the Be A Fan, Bring A Can nights during London Knights games at Budwieser Gardens on December 7, 14, and 16 and the Golfers Care event at the Finch Mercedes Benz dealership on December 13.
"The community knows and understands that the need continues to be there at the food bank. Currently, it is 3,500 families a month that the food bank serves," said Dunn. "That number really hasn't changed over the last two or three years. The demand there is ten times what it was 20 years ago and I think the business community in general really does get it, people really want to help. It's not just the corporations themselves, but the staff that plays a really important role in collecting food."
Any financial donations made during the food drive will be used to purchase fresh produce, milk, and meat for the London Food Bank.
All donations collected during the food drive will be delivered to the London Food Bank on December 21.
Businesses interested in participating in the Business Cares Food Drive can do so by registering at www.businesscares.ca.
