The London Food Bank is getting ready to kick off its 32nd annual Thanksgiving food drive on Thursday.
This will be the food bank’s second virtual food drive in the age of the novel coronavirus.
“The Thanksgiving food drive always kicks off the season of giving.”
“In between now and Christmas is when people really start thinking about the food bank and having food drives,” Jane Roy, co-executive Director of the London Food Bank said.
While food donations will still be accepted at participating grocery stores and the food bank warehouse on Leathorne Street, officials are encouraging residents to consider monetary donations to limit physical contact and maximize the power of their donations.
The spring food drive collected approximately 188,696 pounds of food back in April, which was more than double that from the year before.
In spring, the food bank says Londoners contributed 54,410 pounds of physical food and 134,286 pounds in monetary donations — $349,150.
In addition to their regular services, the food bank has also partnered with 519 Pursuit during the pandemic to deliver lunches to people living on the street.
The food bank estimates it has prepared at least 16,200 lunches in the last 120 days, which volunteers with 519 pursuit delivered directly to where people are staying on the street.
As part of this partnership, the food bank is also encouraging people to donate brand new socks with food donations for London’s homeless.
“When it comes to basic needs, we have been really fortunate, and what we have been trying to do is make sure we support other agencies as well,” Roy said.
The Thanksgiving Food Drive will run Oct. 2-12.
All of the food collected will go to supporting people in the London community.
More information about how to donate can be found on the London Food Bank’s website.
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