File photo by Samuel Gallant, Blackburn News.File photo by Samuel Gallant, Blackburn News.
London

City Hoping For Food Drive Donation Surge

Contributions at the curb are down, but with two days left in the London Cares Curb Hunger Food Drive, the city is optimistic it can reach its target of 50,000 lbs of food.

As of Friday morning, 36,700 lbs of food had been donated curbside for the London Food Bank.

"We're probably about 5% to 10% below where we think we should be but with food drives you never know what is sitting in grocery stores that we haven't collected yet," said Jay Stanford, the city's director of environment, fleet and solid waste.

Stanford pointed to the provincial election for a possible reason for the drop in donations compared to the same time last year.

"It might be something that is just more top of mind for Londoners right now. It has been in the news all week," said Stanford. "We keep our fingers crossed that Londoners hear that there is a need [for food donations] in this community."

The Plant a Row - Grow a Row program is also lagging behind where it was last year with only 25 to 30 families signed up to plant a row of produce in their gardens to be donated to the food bank at harvest time.

"Last year we had 50 families in total so there is plenty of room there. We know people have gardens in their backyard, so all you have to do is sign up at Londonfoodbank.ca... and all we ask is for you to bring it down to the food bank after harvest and they will get it in the hands of people who need it in London," said Stanford.

Roughly 2,800 lbs of fresh produce was donated through the program during last year's drive.

Throughout the food drive’s nine-day run, residents are asked to place a bag of non-perishable food donations labelled "food bank" beside their blue box on their designated recycling day.

Those who missed their chance to donate at the curb can also drop donations off at local grocery stores and London's 14 fire halls.

Read More Local Stories