When the London Food Bank was first started, co-directors Jane Roy and Glen Pearson determined that it should be largely volunteer run and fully transparent to the community at large. Now in its 25th year, the food bank continues to flourish specifically because of its great volunteers, a committed staff, and a community that continues to donate more supplies year after year. The London Food Bank is an important part of this functioning city and we invite you to explore more of how we function and who we serve.
The London Food Bank was officially incorporated on January 1, 1987. It is a non-profit, charitable organization, governed by a community board of directors. The executive director is a volunteer. There are four full-time and one part time paid staff: co-director, general manager, coordinators for operations, human resources and finance/technology.
Mission
Our mission is to help a caring community share its food resources.
Mandate
There are two parts to our mandate:
- To act as a front-line agency assisting those struggling to make ends meet
- To act as a food warehouse and work with other agencies that assist people in need
Objectives
The London Food Bank has nine major objectives:
- To distribute food and food-related products to those requiring assistance
- To accept donations of food and food-related products
- To accept donations of money or other property
- To collect, inspect and store items for distribution
- To cooperate with other organizations that have similar objectives
- To serve as a common contact point for various and diverse segments of the London community
- To reduce the stress on social service agencies and churches by providing coordination and support in the distribution of food stuffs
- To ensure that support and information are consistently available, to help guarantee the appropriateness of emergency programs
- To work with other groups towards a solution to the problem of poverty in Canada
Ethics
We are members of the Ontario Association of Food Banks and the Canadian Association of Food Banks. We have signed and adhere to the code of ethics of both organizations.
Agencies we help
We help more than 20 other groups and agencies:
- Other food banks such as: the Salvation Army, St. Paul’s Daily Bread, Men’s Mission, the Baby Food Bank at Glen Cairn, White Oaks United Church, Chalmers Presbyterian Church
- Residential progams such as: Women’s Community House Stage 1 and Stage 2, Unity Project
- Meal programs such as: school breakfast programs operated through the Children’s Nutrition Network, Memorial Boys and Girls Club, Boys and Girls Supper Club, the network of early childhood education programs operated through Kids Count; St. Joseph’s Hospitality Centre, Youth Action Centre, AIDS Committee of London
