A wave of economic pressure – and government relief – has resulted in a significant swing in the number of people using the London Food Bank (LFB). But officials contend the need remains as the Thanksgiving Food Drive enters its final stretch at grocery stores and drop-off sites across the city. Some volunteers sorting through donations at LFB headquarters on Leathorne Street truly understand the need. Michelle Seah is among them. Today, she is a new volunteer, but a decade ago she was a client. “Sometimes I didn’t really have much food to eat at all, but the LFB would come with the essential food, so I never had to worry about going hungry if I didn’t have the money to go and buy groceries,” she said. Running out of money for food is a reality for 5,700 London families that use the LFB every month. One in six are parents who work full-time jobs, said co-executive director Jane Roy. “And those folks might only come in once or twice a year. They don’t come in all the time, but they’ve just had a bad patch, and here they are.” 2026 has been a rollercoaster of need. Roy said the year began with peak demand, then eased as summer approached. “There was the new grocery benefit, and then the increase in the grocery benefit by 25 per cent,” said Roy. “So, we actually saw our numbers drop, which was great. Now, we are starting to see our number incline once again.” Which highlights the need for a big weekend of donations as many families prepare to celebrate. “Just pick up a few extra items, pop in the bin at the grocery store, and know that it makes a huge difference to the people that are coming to us for help,” said Roy. The Thanksgiving Food Drive coincides with a milestone anniversary. “40 years ago, October 1986 was their first month of statistics, and we helped 360 families a month,” recalled Roy. They were the first of thousands who would benefit from the efforts of a community that always seems to find a way to give back. Seah concedes she wouldn’t have it any other way. “Yes, definitely, because I’ve been through that. I wanted to get back later because I knew how much it meant to me when I needed help,” she said.
