Food bank director 'stunned' as charity set to feed over 5,000 families in February

The London Food Bank is approaching a concerning milestone, according to the organization's co-director.

In line with recent trends, Glen Pearson expects the food bank to serve more than 5,000 families by the end of February. This comes on the heels of a final count of 4,987 families - roughly 13,452 non-single individuals - having used the service in January 2023.

"Each week is another record," said Pearson, adding that similar problems are plaguing food banks across the world.

The figure of 4,987 families served in January is up more than 20 per cent from September's figure of 4,134 families.

"I think we all kind of were stunned (to see January's figures)."

The number of individuals accessing food bank services in London has been on a steady rise since economic hardships connected to the COVID-19 pandemic first surfaced. 

Late last year, Pearson said that a total of 20,000 Londoners were unable to afford food and needed to tap into the food bank's pantry or other charities.

Looking back, the heavy increase in demand is not something food bank officials expected, Pearson said. The food bank's current situation, in which each new month presents a new record number of individuals accessing the pantry, was unexpected until it started happening.

"We always thought you would have people that would fall on hard times, and the rest of society would work through food banks to help them," Pearson said. "People who used to be donors are now users of the food bank."

Many peg rising food prices as the root cause of increasing public reliance on food banks, and while Pearson agrees, he says there are other pressing issues contributing to the problem. He points to stagnant wages and social assistance payouts, along with skyrocketing rent prices, as major pieces of the food insecurity puzzle.

"[If] I'm on Ontario works, I make $733 a month. That's it. My rent is probably $1100," he said. "How do I possibly afford food?"

Riding the wave of holiday generosity

Right now, the food bank is able to meet demand due to what Pearson described as 'incredible' generosity from Londoners and local businesses over the course of the holiday season. 

Over the holidays, the yearly Business Cares food drive raised almost 600,000 lbs of food worth roughly $1.5 million. More than 400 other food drives across the city contributed additional donations, many of which were independently run.

"Start putting us into March or April, and it might not be that way," said Pearson, who fears demand could eventually catch up to incoming donations in the springtime.

Still, Pearson expects that Londoners will continue to display generosity in providing for their community as long as they're able.

"I've been there 36 years. I was there at the start of it, right? Londoners have always been generous."