17 new community agencies ask London Food Bank for help as food insecurity grows

The London Food Bank is preparing for a spring food drive that will serve more than a dozen new community agencies that have turned to the service for help. 

Budget and funding cuts to local charities, plus an increased need in the community has brought more groups to the food bank's doors, according to co-director, Glen Pearson.

"We've taken 17 new agencies just this week," Pearson said, adding that a total of 50 agencies are now being supported by the food bank. Pre-pandemic, that number was closer to 20.

New agencies that have asked for help include Life Spin, Children's Nutrition Network, Meals on Wheels, Bridges out of Poverty, N'amerind Friendship Centre, St Mark's Food Pantry and the WeBridge Community Services seniors' program.

For this year's spring food drive, 60 per cent of proceeds are earmarked to go directly to those agencies.

Sanctuary London is another one of the new local agencies that have partnered with the London Food Bank. It works to help people with housing, poverty, healthcare, and food security from its Talbot Street location.

The charity's needs are growing, like those of other organizations that serve people impacted by poverty, said Darryl Reckman, Sanctuary's executive director.

"It's got to stop. The needs are increasing out there and the funding is just not there. We've got to find a way to care for people who desperately deserve the care. They're beautiful human beings deserving of dignity," Reckman said.

City needs to invest in food security, Pearson says

Pearson said Londoners are very generous with their donations to the food bank, making it possible to support more local agencies. But he worries about the future.

"In three years time, the food bank itself might not be able to do it," Pearson said, adding that demand is also growing from individuals and families who access food directly from the food bank. 

He's critical of policymakers who he said must increase funding to supportive agencies in the community that are dealing daily with people who are not food secure.

"When the city sets out a four-year budget, and there's hardly anything in it for food security, all that means is you're going to have way bigger problems. People are really hungry, and agencies are no longer able to sustain themselves," he said.

"I wish the city would have made that investment," Pearson said.

The food bank is finding its own ways to meet demand. That includes expanding the 'farm in a box' project, which uses compact hydroponics to grow fresh produce.

It's also releasing $2.4 million in food supplies and support that was being held back by the food bank for difficult times.

The spring food drive begins Friday and ends Monday, Apr. 1. Londoners are being asked to donate food at any major grocery store, or donate money at the food bank website. Volunteers are encouraged to sign up online.