London’s annual Thanksgiving food drive returns for its 35th year, and residents are being asked to lend a helping hand.
Starting Friday, September 29 to Monday, October 9, the London Food Bank will hold its Thanksgiving drive, asking Londoners who can donate, to pick up a few extra, non-perishable food items so those struggling to put food on the table have one less thing to worry about.
According to Co-Executive Director Jane Roy, over the first eight months of 2023, the food bank has seen a demand increase of about 43 per cent, when compared to the same timeframe last year. Upwards of 5,200 families (over 12,000 individuals) are coming to the London Food Bank every month. Many of these people are newcomers, Roy said.
“We still get a fair number of calls from people who have never had to come before asking us [how it works],” Roy told LondonNewsToday.ca. “We definitely think [the need] is going to continue to climb for the next little while. For how long, we don’t know.”
Roy explained there’s no specific demographic of individuals seeking support, explaining that the food bank continues to see additional seniors, students, single people, immigrants, and immigrant families in need of grocery items.
The number of households coming to the food bank for support has grown significantly since 2019, when the monthly average of individuals it served was around 3,288. As of the end of August 2023, approximately 5,287 people have come out per month in need of food. On average, families attend the food bank once every three months About 68 per cent of those families come four times a year or less.
For this year’s drive, the food bank has not set out any specific goal. It encourages anyone who can help out to do so, whether it be picking up extra items while out shopping or, if easier, to donate funds online. Last year, the London Food Bank collected 113,135 lbs of food, or 77,476 lbs of food, and $114,465 converted to 40,020 lbs of food, with one lb equalling about $3.21.
“The ability to give to the food bank means we can help everybody [who needs it]," Roy said. “So if you’ve got the means to be able to [donate], by all means, we would love to have your support.”
Additionally, Roy said Londoners can help out by supporting those they know that may be struggling, such as neighbours or friends, to ensure they don’t have to come out to the food bank in the first place.
Items the food bank is seeking to add to its hampers this year include nutritious, non-perishable items such as canned fruits and vegetables with no added sugar or salt, tomato sauce, dry pasta, rice, peanut butter, and canned protein, such as salmon or tuna. It also accepts cereals, oatmeal, and items geared towards children and infants, including lunch snacks, powdered milk, baby formula, food, and pablum. Toiletry items are also welcome.
Drop-off locations are available at most grocery store chains in the London area. Donations, including fresh food items, can also be made directly to the food bank at 926 Leathorne Street.