Members of North Carolina Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) program are doing their part to help feed the thousands of North Carolinians faced with hunger by collecting food for the North Carolina Food Bank, Oct. 3 through Nov. 3.

The statewide food-drive is part of the young farmers’ project for “Harvest for All,” which is affiliated with American Farm Bureau and Feeding America.

The young farmers are encouraging all residents throughout the state, as well as businesses and Farm Bureau members, to help them reach their long-term goal of one million pounds collected and donated.

“This year’s YF&R committee has been collecting canned food for North Carolina food banks since early in 2011,” said Larry Wooten, president of North Carolina Farm Bureau.

“They collected 1,238 pounds of canned food this spring for distribution in Siler City. This summer, the young farmers group generously donated an additional 4,836 pounds of canned food items to the Albemarle Food Bank.”

Local Farm Bureau offices throughout the state will be set up to collect canned food items between Oct. 3 and Oct. 24.

All North Carolina families are being challenged to donate five canned food items during the collection period. The goal is to help fill the Harvest for All truck on Nov. 3 at the North Carolina Farm Bureau office in Raleigh.