Shop at Safeway and Help Feed Marylanders in Need

Customers shopping at Safeway stores this weekend can buy $10 bags filled with staples to donate to the Maryland Food Bank.

Safeway stores help kick off the Harvest for the Hungry annual spring food drive, which runs from Saturday through March 9. The $10 grocery bags are pre-filled with essentials like rice, tuna and cereal, reports WBAL TV.

The food is donated to the Maryland Food Bank, which is starting to run out of its holiday donations.

"There are about 457,000 in our service area who don't know where their next meal is coming from, 162,000 of whom are children. So, this is the kind of drive that really raises that awareness at a time of year when we need that help more than ever," said Maryland Food Bank Director of Communications Kate Sam.

During last year's drive, Safeway stores sold more than 6,000 of the $10 bags.

The program is convenient for the food bank, since workers don’t have to repackage the items.