The London Food Bank in southwestern Ontario reported an increase in community support during the 2025 Thanksgiving Food Drive compared to the previous year. Director Glen Pearson highlighted the focus of this year’s campaign on addressing food insecurity among children and youth, which was influenced by the uncertainties arising from the trade tensions between Canada and the United States.
Despite initial concerns, the message resonated well with the public, leading to a surge in donations. Pearson expressed gratitude for the community’s response, emphasizing their heightened awareness of the prevalent issue. The total contributions included 82,624 pounds of food and $131,165 in monetary donations, amounting to 118,658 pounds of food to distribute. With an average of 10 pounds per person, this supply is expected to sustain the food bank’s monthly service to approximately 14,000 to 16,000 individuals for around three weeks.
Compared to the previous year, the combined food and monetary donations in 2025 reached 109,408 pounds of food. Pearson noted that 60% of the collected groceries would be allocated to partner agencies, while the remaining 40% would serve the food bank’s clientele. Plans are in place to replenish the food inventory once it depletes.
A significant contribution of $85,000 from an anonymous donor greatly boosted this year’s monetary donations, symbolizing the community’s compassion towards local child hunger issues. Looking ahead, the food bank is preparing for its upcoming holiday drive amidst a growing demand for services statewide. Pearson stressed the need for policy changes at the broader level to address the escalating hunger crisis in Canada.
With an increasing number of households and individuals relying on the food bank in 2025, including a substantial portion being children and youth, efforts are underway by organizations like Young London to delve deeper into the root causes of food insecurity through surveys and interviews within the community.