Ottawa Food Bank hosting its spring food drive on Saturday. Here’s where you can donate

The Ottawa Food Bank is seen here in this file image. (CTV News Ottawa)

The Ottawa Food Bank is hoping you’ll help fill the plates for people in Ottawa this spring, as one in four households continues to experience food insecurity.

The annual “Fill the Plates – Spring Food Drive” is Saturday at grocery stores across Ottawa.  People can make donations at one of several grocery stores between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Volunteers will be at 31 grocery stores to accept cash donations and non-perishable items.

The Ottawa Food Bank says $16 can fill the plates of a family of four.

“Sixteen dollars really goes a long way,” Jessica Robson, community engagement and partnerships manager, told CTV Morning Live Thursday morning.

Robson says the items most in need include pasta, lentils, pasta sauce, nut butters, rice, canned vegetables, canned fish, and diapers.

“We really invite folks to pick up an extra item while they’re grocery shopping,” Robson said. “We know times are hard out there for families in our community and one extra item while they’re out on Saturday at our grocery store partners would really make a difference to us.”

Here is the list of grocery stores participating in the Spring Food Drive:

• Brierly’s Your Independent Grocer Gloucester
• Chris and Samia’s No Frills Nepean
• Connor & Kennedy’s No Frills Ottawa
• Food Basics #634 (Ottawa) Kirkwood
• Food Basics #870 (Heron & Walkley)
• Food Basics #907 (Merivale)
• Marsha’s Your Independent Grocer (YIG)
• Laura’s Your Independent Grocer (YIG)
• Loblaws Bells Corners
• Loblaws Carlingwood Mall
• Loblaws College Square
• Loblaws Gloucester Center
• Loblaws Isabella
• Loblaws Merivale
• Loblaws South Keys
• Loblaws Vanier
• Marsha’s Your Independent Grocer (YIG)
• Massine’s Your Independent Grocer Ottawa
• Metro Beechwood 261
• Metro Blackburn Hamlet
• Metro Convent Glen 260
• Metro Cumberland
• Metro Elmvale Acres 263
• Metro Fallingbrook
• Metro Glebe 428
• Metro Island Park 255
• Metro Lincoln Heights
• Metro McCarthy 245
• Metro Merivale Market
• Metro Ogilvie 253
• Metro Southgate 252
• Real Canadian Superstore South Orleans
• Real Canadian Superstore Westboro
• Riley’s Your Independent Grocer Ottawa