North York food drive kicks off

[attach]1026[/attach]Toronto Fire officials helped kick off the North York Harvest Food Bank’s annual winter food drive earlier today at a fire hall near Yonge Street and Lawrence Avenue.

Members of Toronto Fire Services joined the food bank’s executive director Anette
Chawla to launch the drive, which runs until Jan. 4.

The event took place at the fire hall near Yonge Street and Lawrence Avenue.

As in past food drives, Fire Services is lending help by hosting drop off points at fire halls across northern Toronto.

Requests for food assistance at the food banks are up 22% this year.

“Although the public has responded generously to the growing need, we have not been able to keep pace with the demand,” said Chawla in a statement.

Suggested donations include canned fish, dried and canned beans, rice, pasta sauce and baby supplies.

Donations may be made at North York fire halls for the duration of the food drive and at various other locations ([url=http://www.northyorkharvest.com/drop-off-locations]click here for a map[/url]) throughout the year.

Monetary donations are also accepted via the food bank’s website, [url=http://www.northyorkharvest.com]northyorkharvest.com[/url] or by phone with a credit card at 416-635-7771. Cheques can be mailed to North York Harvest Food Bank, 640 Lawrence Avenue West, Toronto, ON M6A 1B1.