Londoners are again being asked to be generous for the 28th annual Spring Food Drive.
In the past ten years, demand for the London Food Bank's services has grown by 50%. In 2014, 11,247 different families (25,738 individuals) were helped.
But collecting enough food to address the demand isn't the only problem the food bank has.
"Food is becoming more expensive, some foods are going to go up 11-15% over the course of the next two years," says Glen Pearson, co-director of the London Food Bank. "The way that we solve that is by bringing in local food and making it work, so we help the people of low income by creating a food system that is equitable for everybody and then they too can take advantage of that."
Officials also hope to address the stigma that is associated with needing help from the food bank.
"I think the food bank will look at alternative models of how to distribute the food," says Dr. Jason Gilliland, director of the Urban Development Program at Western University. "They're looking at options of how to get their clients to be able to buy in the community, in their own communities."
Donors are being asked to give non-perishable items such as peanut butter, rice, baby food and formula, soup, beans, juice, tinned meat and fish, pasta and pasta sauce, boxed dinners, and other dry goods such as powered milk, cereal and crackers. Non food items such as diapers, toothpaste, toilet paper, and detergents are also appreciated.
Of the donations collected, 60% will be distributed to 20 other social agencies around the city, while the remaining 40% will be given out at the food bank.
Donations can be dropped off at grocery stores, fire halls, or the at the food bank.
**This story was written by Alec Ross, a student in the Broadcast Journalism program at Fanshawe College. Alec is currently performing an internship with BlackburnNews.com