London food‑bank drive starts

London Food Bank’s own spring-drive blog, published March 24, frames 2026 as the organization’s 40th year and says about 4,000 volunteers work alongside its board, staff and supporters. (londonfoodbank.ca) Local reporting described the spring campaign as the 39th edition while the food bank’s material frames this season as a 40‑year reckoning, reflecting a numbering discrepancy between media coverage and the charity’s own anniversary messaging. (lfpress.com) At the kickoff the charity’s co‑directors — Jane Roy and Glen Pearson — warned that charitable drives cannot substitute for public policy, with CTV quoting the food bank saying defeating hunger is “impossible without the government.” (lfpress.com) The food bank’s current list of most‑needed items includes special‑diet foods (gluten‑free, lactose‑free), dried vegetables and legumes, and it asks that perishable donations be delivered directly during operating hours rather than left in grocery bins. (londonfoodbank.ca) The charity’s guidance also states acceptable best‑before limits for donations: “wet goods” (canned/jarred) up to two years past the date and boxed/dry goods up to one year past the date, and it asks donors not to leave donations outside when the building is closed. (londonfoodbank.ca) Operational scale figures cited in local partner materials note the London and Area Food Bank has served since 1986 and reported serving an average of about 5,543 families a month (roughly 16,149 individuals) with 36.5% of those helped being children and youth. (businesscares.ca) Previous spring‑drive reporting showed early momentum examples — one local account put a rapid four‑day collection at about 5,960 kilograms, topping an earlier four‑day total of 5,530 kilograms while noting online donations trailed year‑earlier levels. (ledc.com)