Bags, bins and baskets of food filled a box truck destined for food bank shelves during Friday’s 21st annual Great Holiday Food Drive.

“It’s been nonstop activities and the outpouring of support from the community has been tremendous,” said Betty-Lou Souter, chief executive officer of Community Care of St. Catharines and Thorold.

The 12-hour food drive began at 6 a.m. at St. Catharines Market Square.

Member agencies of Feed Niagara, a consortium of 10 food banks across the region, including also in Niagara Falls and Welland, held associated drives as need for food assistance soars.

“Our statistics are escalating at an unsurmountable rate, but we wouldn’t be able to do it (feed people) without events like this,” Souter said.

She acknowledged sponsors such as Whiteoaks Communications Gr

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