Non perishable food items. (File photo by Miranda Chant, Blackburn Media)Non perishable food items. (File photo by Miranda Chant, Blackburn Media)
London

Food drive aims to fill shelves during traditionally slow donation period

While the busy summer months tend to bring a slowdown of donations, demand for the London Food Bank's services remains the same.

To help ensure there is food on the shelf for Londoners in need, the city has once again launched its annual London Cares Curb Hunger food drive. The 10-day campaign, now in its 26th year, kicked off on Wednesday with organizers asking for donations of fresh food, non-perishables, or cash.

"With soaring food prices, more and more Londoners are struggling to access food,” said Mayor Josh Morgan. “For the past 26 years, the London Cares Curb Hunger campaign has helped to ensure all Londoners have access to food, and thanks to the generosity and compassion of our community, I know this year will be no different.”

The annual campaign supports more than 25,000 people who rely on the food bank. Last year, it brought in the equivalent of 76,800 lbs of food, not including fresh produce donations made during the late summer and fall vegetable harvest.

For a fourth year, there is a focus on fresh food where Londoners have the option to donate perishables along with non-perishable foods by dropping them off at the food bank's warehouse at 926 Leathorne Street. Those with a green thumb can also sign up for the Plant a Row, Grow a Row and Adopt a Plot programs. Those two initiatives allow people to plant backyard or community gardens, and adopt a plot in the food bank's on-site garden to then donate at harvest time.

“We believe all Londoners should not only have access to food, but that the food they eat should be nutritious,” said Jane Roy, the food bank's co-executive director. “Through the London Cares Curb Hunger campaign and our greenhouses, 56 per cent of the food distributed by the London Food Bank last year was fresh.”

The option to drop off non-perishable food donations to participating grocery stores and local fire halls also remains. Alternatively, people can make financial donations online at www.londonfoodbank.ca. These donations are typically used to purchase fresh food and the necessary resources to reach homeless individuals and families in the city.

The food drive runs until June 17.

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