Growing need highlights launch on 23rd London Business Cares holiday food drive
For the second year in a row, the London Business Cares food drive is not setting a ‘goal,’ according to campaign chair Wayne Dunn.
“We don't want to make anybody feel they have to be the result of that,” Dunn said. “So give what you can but only if you can.”
In 2021, the threat of the pandemic creating lockdowns and uncertainty led to the decision, this year it is inflation. Dunn hopes the community will step up again when it raised 588,000 lbs. of food.
A big change that has occurred is more money and cheques are being donated along with food, which allows flexibility into what, and when that donation is used.
“We’re able to fund the other programs throughout the year, and they have great returns on them, and that can’t be done without us having cheques,” Dunn said.
Partners like the London and District Construction Association are doing several unique events like a silent art auction
“Imagine construction people selling art at an event at the Grand Theatre!” executive director Mike Carter quipped. “And the painting that we sold last year during the business care food drive was 5,000 bucks, I couldn't believe it. So now we decided to really test the market and do three and we'll see how it goes.”
The Grand Theatre is heavily involved again, collecting through its production of Elf. Over the last five seasons, The Grand has raised over $340,000 for the food bank, and is well on its way this year according to new executive director Evan Klassen.
“We opened on Friday last week. We have already done six collections. (Where) we've already collected $12,000 towards the food bank,” Klassen said.
This weekend hundreds of volunteers will be at local grocery stores collecting for the food drive.
“Go to any grocery store in London, you're not going to miss us. And we have all volunteers out collecting food, buy it, buy a bundle or buy some cans and donate to the volunteers on site,” Dunn said.
The food drive runs until Wednesday, Dec. 21
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING | U.S. considering plan to down Chinese balloon over Atlantic
The Biden administration is considering a plan to shoot down a large Chinese balloon suspected of conducting surveillance on U.S. military, by bringing it down once it is above the Atlantic Ocean where the remnants could potentially be recovered, according to four U.S. officials.

Dangerously cold temperatures envelop Northeast
The Arctic air that descended on the Northeast on Saturday brought dangerously cold sub-zero temperatures and wind chills to the region, including a record-setting wind chill of minus 108 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 78 C) on the summit of Mount Washington in New Hampshire.
Marit Stiles officially confirmed as Ontario NDP leader by majority vote
Marit Stiles has been confirmed as the new leader of the Ontario NDP after a majority of party members voted in favour of the lone candidate.
W5 Investigates | Daniel Jolivet insists he's not a murderer and says he has proof
Convicted murderer Daniel Jolivet, in prison for the past 30 years, has maintained his innocence since the day he was arrested. W5 reviews the evidence he painstakingly assembled while behind bars. W5's documentary 'Buried Evidence' airs Saturday at 7 p.m. on CTV.
It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a spy balloon from China? Here's what we know about the balloon so far
The massive white orb drifting across U.S. airspace has triggered a diplomatic maelstrom and is blowing up on social media. A look at what's known about the balloon crossing the U.S. and what isn't.
Poor oral health could affect the brain later in life: early study
An early study has shown keeping your gums and teeth healthy may have added benefits for your brain health.
Dozens of soldiers freed in Russia-Ukraine prisoner swap
Dozens of Russian and Ukrainian prisoners of war have returned home following a prisoner swap, officials on both sides said Saturday.
Oldest preserved vertebrate brain found in 319-million-year-old fish fossil
The oldest preserved vertebrate brain has been found in a 319-million-year-old fossilized fish skull that was removed from an English coal mine over a century ago.
In Tyre Nichols' neighbourhood, Black residents fear police
In a terrible way, the death of Tyre Nichols brings vindication to members of the Black community in Memphis who live in terror of police.