The London Food Bank is gearing up for its Spring Food Drive.
The annual campaign which aims to keep shelves stocked throughout the slow summer months comes as the food bank sees a resurgence in the number of people relying on its services.
More than 50,000 bags will be delivered in Friday's London Free Press, with another 40,000 expected to be handed out at grocery stores. Londoners are asked to fill the bags with non-perishables and drop them off at grocery stores or London fire halls.
Co-Executive Director Glen Pearson says the food bank is once again helping nearly 3,600 families a month.
"Last year the food bank numbers went down to 3,100 families a month and we wondered why that was," says Pearson. "There was a federal tax credit that came out last summer which was backlogged for six months, so people got six months worth of tax credits all in one lump sum. As a result they stopped using the food bank because they didn't require it. We wondered if they would come back once that money ran out and that seems to be what's happened."
The food bank has also announced a new partnership with Meals on Wheels, a move that will help get food to the increasing number of seniors using the food bank.
"Meals on Wheels was trying to find a way in which they could expand their services into areas where seniors are at. We met with them a year ago and we talked with them about it and we realized there is probably a way here in which we could partner," says Pearson. "We will help provide the food to Meals on Wheels, they will prepare those meals and then take them out to seniors who are immobile."
The Spring Food Drive, now in it's 29th year, will provide food to a total of 20 city agencies, in addition to stocking the food bank.
The drive wraps up on March 28.
