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Growing demand. Growing generosity.

The London Food Bank’s fall drive is off to a strong start on its opening weekend, an annual campaign that comes as the agency grapples with never-before-seen levels of demand from the community.

The drive, which began on Friday, brought in 7,174 kilograms of food and cash equivalents as of Sunday, up more than 220 kg from the same period a year ago, food bank co-director Jane Roy said.

“It has gone really well. People have donated lots of food and lots of money so far. People are very generous,” she said Sunday. “We’re ahead of where we were at this point in last year’s campaign, and last year was like 30 or 40 per cent greater than the year before.”

The fall food drive has brought in $16,704 in financial contributions so far, a sum that gets converted to food in its reporting at a rate of $3.61 a pound.

Like others across Canada, the London Food Bank is grappling with record demand as inflation and other economic pressures hit people’s pocketbooks.

The agency has helped an average of 5,287 families a month in the first eight months of 2023, a 43 per cent increase over the same period last year. The total is a 91 per cent increase over 2021, according to food bank statistics.

“I think people are shocked by that figure, that there’s so much need out there. They understand that of they’re continuing to feel it, then others are feeling it too,” Roy said.

The food bank has weathered various economic shocks, local job-losses and recessions in its more than three-decade history, seeing demand surge and plateau with every community hardship, Roy said. In recent years, there has been no plateau in sight, she said.

“We’ve seen this exponential growth. We’d always hovered around 3,000 to 3,500 families a month, but we’re getting close to 6,000 families a month coming to us directly,” she said.

“But we’re fine because Londoners have been so good. They have helped us manage this.”

On Thursday, to kick off the fall campaign, the London and District Construction Association donated a 12-metre shipping container and the labour and materials to turn it into a hydroponic greenhouse for the food bank.

The fall food drive runs until Monday Oct. 9. Non-perishable food donations – and non-food items, such as toiletries and dish soap – can be dropped off at major London grocery stores or any fire hall.

Fresh produce donations must be taken directly to the food bank.

Donations from the drive help the food bank meet demand for assistance through the winter months.

jbieman@postmedia.com

London Food Bank’s Fall Food Drive

When: Sept. 29 to Oct. 9

Non-perishable donations: Food donations accepted at major grocery stores and London fire stations.

Fresh food donations: Please bring fresh produce directly to the food bank.

Financial contributions: Can be made online at londonfoodbank.ca or by mailing a cheque to the food bank, 926 Leathorne St., London, ON N5Z 3M5

Food needs: Canned vegetables and no-sugar-added fruit, canned tomatoes with no salt added, canned tuna and salmon, peanut butter, foods for gluten-free and lactose-free diets, dried vegetables (lentils, chick peas), healthy breakfast cereals.