London Food Bank’s Thanksgiving collection drive trails last year’s total

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Down slightly overall after the opening weekend of its fall food drive, the London Food Bank is optimistic the public will come through in the lead-up to Thanksgiving.

The food bank brought in 5,301 kilograms of food and cash equivalents in the first weekend of its Thanksgiving Food Drive, down about 460 kg from the same point in last year’s campaign, co-director Jane Roy said Sunday. 

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“People were very generous and we’re off to a good start,” she said. “It’s more important to have a good end than a good start.” 

The fall food drive has brought in $21,465 in cash donations so far, a sum that gets converted to food in its reporting at a rate of $3.52 a pound. By the same point in last year’s fall food drive, the food bank had collected $17,247.  

As for food items, the food bank has brought in 2,524 kg so far, compared to 3,306 kg by the same point in last year’s fall campaign. 

The food bank is anticipating momentum to grow before Thanksgiving Monday, when the annual campaign wraps up. There will be volunteer groups out in full force at grocery stores in the city all week, catching shoppers as they prepare for their own holiday meals, Roy said. 

“That really helps and really makes a huge difference,” she said. “The public, every year, is great. I am always so encouraged by how great people are.” 

The London Food Bank is not on the hunt for any specific food items from donors this year, Roy said. People may drop off non-perishable food at London fire halls or participating grocery stores.  

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Perishable items, such as root vegetables, must be dropped off at the food bank’s Leathorne Street facility. Financial donations, which can be made online, help the food bank buy food and support other programs, including breakfast initiatives in area schools, Roy said. 

The focus of the Thanksgiving Food Drive is food insecurity among London’s children and youth.  

The food bank saw a 13.8 per cent increase in the number of children in the families seeking food from January to September, compared to the same period last year.  

The organization has served 14,649 individual children in the first nine months of 2024. 

jbieman@postmedia.com 

London Food Bank’s Thanksgiving Food Drive 

When: Oct. 4 to Oct. 14 

Donations: Non-perishable food can be dropped off at major grocery stores and London fire stations. Financial contributions can be made online at londonfoodbank.ca 

Food needs: Canned vegetables and no-sugar-added canned fruit, canned tomatoes with no salt added, canned fish, peanut butter, gluten-free and lactose-free foods, healthy breakfast cereals. 

Perishable food: The food bank accepts fruit and vegetables, commercially baked goods, or fresh/frozen meat, all in their original packaging, at its 926 Leathorne St. location during operating hours. Donations can be dropped off Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. 

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