Students from The Grand Theatre's High School Project production of Evita help launch the 2017 Business Cares Food Drive, December 1, 2017. Photo by Jason Menard.Students from The Grand Theatre's High School Project production of Evita help launch the 2017 Business Cares Food Drive, December 1, 2017. Photo by Jason Menard.
London

Food Drive Calls Businesses To Action

With just over three weeks until Christmas, businesses big and small are being asked to pitch in to help stock the shelves of the London Food Bank.

The Business Cares Food Drive kicked off its 18th edition Friday at Western University. So far, 200 city businesses have signed up to participate in this year's drive, with more expected to do so in the coming days.

"Any businesses that are out there, it doesn't matter how small they are or how big, we need everybody that we can to help out," said Campaign Chair Wayne Dunn. "There is no donation that is too small."

More than 500 businesses took part last year, bringing in a total of 325,000 lbs of food. The goal this year is to raise just one pound more than in 2016.

Students from The Grand Theatre's High School Project production of Evita helped to launch the 2017 campaign. They sang a special Business Cares edition of the 12 Days of Christmas. The Grand is among the businesses that has signed up to participate in the food drive and will be encouraging theatre goers to donate during this year's production of A Christmas Carol.

"Having the Grand's A Christmas Carol and Scrooge tied into Business Cares is a marriage made in heaven," said Dunn. "Over the next three weeks the Grand will be talking about the food drive and raising money at the end of the performances. It's going to be very helpful to us."

Any financial donations made during the food drive will be used to purchase fresh produce, milk, and meat for the London Food Bank.

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 9am and 5pm on Saturday and Sunday.

All donations collected during the food drive will be delivered to the London Food Bank prior to Christmas.

The food bank serves roughly 3,500 families a month.

Any business looking to participate in the Business Cares Food Drive can do so by registering at www.businesscares.ca.

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