The London Cares Curb Hunger campaign starts today in support of the London Food Bank to spread awareness of the need for fresh and non-perishable food donations locally.
“Enabling access to food is critical to the health and well-being of our community,” says Mayor Ed Holder. “The London Cares Curb Hunger campaign has supported this need for years and continues to be a great way for the people of London to take part in supplying families with the fresh and non-perishable food they need.”
Each year, the London Cares Curb Hunger campaign supports more than 25,000 individuals in need of food. Now in its 25th year, the food drive is the longest running partnership of its kind in Canada. The annual campaign raises awareness of the London Food Bank and the need for support during the summer months, which is traditionally a slower period for food donations.
“Supplying fresh food is a critical part of our work and now we’ll be offering free Green Walls as a way for more people to contribute to this important initiative,” says Jane Roy, Co-Executive Director of the London Food Bank. “Last year, 55 per cent of the food distributed by the London Food Bank was fresh, and we hope to keep growing that number.”
Green Walls – three-foot square sections made of felt, hold 49 pockets to grow vegetables vertically on any outside wall or fence – are available free of charge to Londoners willing to grow and bring back the food grown in it to distribute to families in need. Fresh produce harvested from green walls can be brought back to the London Food Bank or other food bank depots within neighbourhoods.
Donations for this year are being accepted between June 8 and June 18, 2022. In addition to Green Walls, there are several ways residents can participate:
- Fresh Food Donations
Both fresh and non-perishable foods continue to be accepted at the Food Bank, located at 926 Leathorne St.
- Financial Donations
Online donations at www.londonfoodbank.ca are vital and the quickest way to help the London Food Bank acquire fresh food.
- Plant a Row, Grow a Row
Londoners can sign up to help Grow-a-Row for the Food Bank in their backyard or community gardens.
- Adopt a Plot
The London Food Bank now has on-site garden beds to grow vegetables for use in client hampers. Groups are welcome to sign up to adopt a plot of these gardens to help plant, raise, and harvest vegetables.
- Non-Perishable Food Donation
Non-perishable food donations can be left at your local fire hall or at participating grocery stores.
As a reminder, pickup of non-perishable food donations is no longer offered curbside. For more information on this year’s campaign or for ways to donate, please visit www.london.ca/fooddrive.