36th annual spring food drive comes with goodness, and challenge
The London Food Bank spring drive kicks off Friday and runs until April 10 — and the need has never been higher, according to co-executive director Jane Roy.
“Now we're seeing 5,000 families a month. That's up 40 per cent over where it was last year. So when we're throwing out those numbers, those are families,” she said. “Those are individuals that need assistance.”
The kick off began with a group of young people between 11 and 13 called the “Goodness Angels.” Many of them have come to Canada from Syria and Turkey, this was the first donation of the drive.
“We dropped off brown paper bags at people's doors with, like little instructions on them. And then like three to four days later, we went and picked them up and then came here and donated it and stuff,” Melike Akin said of the multi-month effort to collect and donate roughly 2,000 pounds of food.
The act of the Goodness Angels is a form of paying it forward, as many came to Canada with their families at a young age and received help from the food bank.
“When I first came to Canada, the London Food Bank helped me and my family a lot because we didn't really know what to do. And now that I’m older and I’m in like a different position in my life than I was six years ago, now I want to help them back,” said Akin.
With the food bank seeing continuous influx of new families in need, co-executive director Glen Pearson said something needs to be done before it's unsustainable.
“This won't go on much longer. Food banks across the country are beginning to fail or beginning to ration. We're fortunate in London that we're still going, but you can't keep seeing things climb to this degree and not get involved as policymakers, politicians, people that are in bureaucracies,” he explained.
Pearson challenged decision makers re-ignite efforts that started a decade ago to make food more available, but those reports were never implemented.
"It's time to bring that group back together with policymakers and say, ‘How could we make it?’ This isn't about helping hungry families. This is about better food and cheaper food in London for everybody. And that's what the design of those things was. So I’m really challenging those groups to come back together, including us as a food bank,” he said.
Paper bags can be found at area grocery stores throughout Easter weekend, along with drop off locations. Perishable items can still be donated directly to the food bank.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.