GURU Nanak Food Bank (GNFB) announced on Monday that its 5th Annual Mega Food Drive held on Sunday, July 6 collected 216 tons of food.

Once again, the community opened their hearts to support neighbours in need, said Neeraj Walia, Head of Operations, Guru Nanak Food Bank.

Many local politicians joined the event, encouraging the community to continue donating. Over 100 dedicated school students volunteered and successfully ran the entire Mega Food Drive from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

While donations decreased compared to last year’s record-breaking 384.5 tons, GNFB said it understands this is one of the toughest times for Canadians. “We remain grateful and inspired by the unwavering community spirit,” it added.

GNFB reminds everyone that if you missed the Mega Food Drive, you can still drop off donations at any GNFB location or donate online at www.gnfb.ca.

On this 5th anniversary, GNFB also celebrates a milestone of 72,000 volunteer hours contributed over the last five years. “We especially applaud Laksh, an 11-year-old who began volunteering with GNFB on July 1, 2020, and has now completed 2,765 volunteer hours — an outstanding example of dedication and community service,” it said, while extending heartfelt thanks to all its volunteers, supporters and donors.