Business community pitches in to support needy citizens
The London Food Bank
received 259,870 pounds of food
in 2012 from the Business Cares
Food Drive, up one per cent from
their 2010/11 mark.
The goal to collect 256,001 pounds of food was set by the Business Cares Foundation and exceeded by nearly 4,000 pounds with more than 440 London businesses taking part.
Josh Chadwick, special food coordinator at the London Food Bank, said the generosity of Londoners continues to impress. "Ultimately, it would be best if we were able to say, 'Thank you London, that need has been met, we figured out the hunger and poverty issue and we could shut our doors.'"
Unfortunately the issue has not been solved, and in fact it has gotten worse in London; the local food bank has seen a 19 per cent increase in demand in 2011/12. "We hoped that there would be a support in the community so we can meet the demand, and Business Cares is a part of that," Chadwick said. "Once again this year they surpassed their goal that they set, and that allows us to move forward for the next few months to meet the needs before us."
As the local community continues to struggle with the tough economy, and with London's unemployment rate at 7.3 per cent (0.6 per cent above the national average in December 2012), it is amazing that the community pulled together to increase food donations, according to Chadwick. "It works like a full circle: we help the community, the community helps us, we are able to help more people … It's a great relationship that we have with London and Londoners, and we look forward to continuing that relationship."
Business Cares has met or exceeded their goals over the past 13 years they have been collecting food. Moving forward, the Business Cares food drive campaign has set their goal for this year: 259,871 pounds of food — one more pound of food than was collected last year.
For more information on the London Food Bank, check out londonfoodbank.ca; for more on Business Cares, head to businesscares.ca.
The goal to collect 256,001 pounds of food was set by the Business Cares Foundation and exceeded by nearly 4,000 pounds with more than 440 London businesses taking part.
Josh Chadwick, special food coordinator at the London Food Bank, said the generosity of Londoners continues to impress. "Ultimately, it would be best if we were able to say, 'Thank you London, that need has been met, we figured out the hunger and poverty issue and we could shut our doors.'"
Unfortunately the issue has not been solved, and in fact it has gotten worse in London; the local food bank has seen a 19 per cent increase in demand in 2011/12. "We hoped that there would be a support in the community so we can meet the demand, and Business Cares is a part of that," Chadwick said. "Once again this year they surpassed their goal that they set, and that allows us to move forward for the next few months to meet the needs before us."
As the local community continues to struggle with the tough economy, and with London's unemployment rate at 7.3 per cent (0.6 per cent above the national average in December 2012), it is amazing that the community pulled together to increase food donations, according to Chadwick. "It works like a full circle: we help the community, the community helps us, we are able to help more people … It's a great relationship that we have with London and Londoners, and we look forward to continuing that relationship."
Business Cares has met or exceeded their goals over the past 13 years they have been collecting food. Moving forward, the Business Cares food drive campaign has set their goal for this year: 259,871 pounds of food — one more pound of food than was collected last year.
For more information on the London Food Bank, check out londonfoodbank.ca; for more on Business Cares, head to businesscares.ca.
