Thanksgiving food drive exceeds expectations, bank sees spike in fresh produce

London's annual Thanksgiving food drive is closing in on 50,000 pounds of food – already surpassing expectations with one day left to donate.

"We went into this food driving thinking because there were some special events last year, this year won't be as high," said Glen Pearson, co-executive director of the London Food Bank. "We've already exceeded what we thought we would get."

Last year, the food drive received about 80,000 pounds in donated food – a 20 per cent jump from the year prior – through additional community outreach events that were held.

Volunteers at the food bank will go through donations from local schools and churches throughout the week, which will increase the donation total.

More fresh produce

Food bank leaders have noted a significant increase in fresh produce being donated in the last five years.

Forty per cent of food given out to about 3,600 families every month is made up of fresh produce, including fruits, vegetates, and dairy products.

Pearson credits the jump to the food bank's partnership with the Middlesex London Health Unit helping create nutritious hampers. However, he said health awareness also plays a big role.

"Farmers and grocery stores and people themselves have put more of an emphasis on fresh food and produce," he said. "The general London public is making healthier food choices as well."

"More and more through the food drives people donate perishable items," said Jane Roy, co-executive director of the Food Bank. "People donate fruits and vegetable and root vegetables and they also give us money to purchase dairy products, which helps us round out what we give folks."

While fresh produce numbers are increasing, the food bank is relying on a growing trend of regular donors dropping off food.

"Food drive numbers tend to go down a little bit every year because people are giving on a regular basis to grocery store and the fire halls."

Beyond the drive

On average, the food bank services about 9,000 individuals every month directly, and double that amount through its 20 other service agencies.

Although Pearson is happy to see donation boxes 'filled' and 'overflowing' he hopes that the 29th annual food drive will continue a conversation about mitigating the food bank's need.

"It's too bad we have to have food banks because it shows that there's a failure in the system…We have to find better ways, we have to look at ways to find better security for people," he said.

"It's my hope that this food drive will once again get that kind of conversation going among Londoners."

He adds that food wastage is becoming a visible problem in London that should be tackled to close the front doors of the food bank.

Nonetheless, "we are thankful," said Pearson.