Organizers hope for big finish as London Cares Curb Hunger Food Drive winds down

The London Cares Curb Hunger Food Drive wraps up June 16 and organizers are less than a quarter of the way to matching last year’s total.

So far the food drive has raised 10,000 lbs of food. Last year’s total was just over 43,000 lbs.

“We stock for the summer shelves through this particular drive,” said Jay Stanford, City of London director of environment, fleet and solid waste.

“We’re keeping our fingers crossed, we’re serving about 3,500-3,600 families a month. That is why the need is there.”

Organizers are hoping the public will come through in a big way, noting there are four ways to participate this year.

Donations can be dropped off at grocery stores, local fire stations, or at the curb on your recycling collection day (organizers ask that you don’t place glass items at the curb).

New this year is the Grow a Row option, where Londoners can sign up online and grow a row of food in their own gardens to donate to the food bank at harvest time. Roughly thirty families have already signed up.

The food bank also gave examples of need food items:

• Canned vegetables, fruits, stews, meats and other dinner items
• Pasta and rice
• Baby food & formula
• Cereals
• Nut butters
• Special diet foods (gluten/lactose free, etc.)

On Friday, curbside collection will take place in zone A covering Byron, Oakridge, Westmount, and Woodbank.