SUDBURY -- It’s that time of year again, and in Sudbury the holiday season always means the Edgar Burton Christmas Food Drive is back.

Dan Xilon, director of the Sudbury Food Bank, said the 33rd annual event is going to look a bit different this year.

“They’ll be no Kids Helping Kids component of the campaign this year,” said Xilon. “Mainly it’s going to be a business and organizational campaign for food and a virtual campaign for non-touched donations.”

Xilon said the need for food and monetary donations is much greater this year compared to previous years. He said food banks are reporting a 30 per cent increase in demand for services.

“We already know that half of the food we normally collect is not going to come in because there is no Kids Helping Kids portion of the campaign because of the way the world is right now there’s not an option there," he said. "This isn’t somebody stepping out of the plate, this is something that just can’t be done so the effect is going to be quite extensive to the people in need on our community.”

Sarah Yasinchuk, co-chair of the Edgar Burton Christmas Food Drive, said health protocols are in place for this year's food drive.

“We’ve had to look at quarantining the food after we pick it up for a certain length of time," said Yasinchuk. "Of course we have to make sure that our volunteers are wearing masks and respecting social distancing … But the spirit and the mission that Edgar was motivated by and giving back to his community in such a simple way through the mantra of one more can has not gone anywhere because of COVID.”

Yasinchuk said the food drive would not be possible without the support from Vale and the United Steelworkers.

The food drive will run until Dec. 14 and all food donations will be picked up by reserve troops from the Canadian Armed Forces 2nd Battalion Irish Regiment between Dec. 14 and Dec. 16.

For more information, contact ebcfooddrive@gmail.com or call 705-682-8200. Contactless financial donations in support of the campaign can be made by clicking here