Giant grocery store set for 22nd annual area food drive

Today is the first day of Giant Food stores’ 22nd annual Good Neighbor Food and Funds Drive. In the Charlottesville area, donations of money or nonperishable foods will go to the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank.

Giant customers can donate $1, $3 or $5 at the register or can drop off purchased food items in a collection cart.

The Verona-based food bank network serves 34 localities, whose residents have received 14.6 million pounds of food this year. The network expects to distribute 16 million pounds of food in 2010.

The Giant event runs through Dec. 31. Last year, Giant collected more than $300,000 and 150,000 pounds of food to distribute to five food banks, including the Blue Ridge location.