Hannaford Supermarkets announced today that the company has kicked off a food drive program designed to help provide hunger relief to local food banks. Shoppers at Hannaford stores in Maine and Massachusetts will have an opportunity to help fight hunger in their communities by contributing to the Hannaford Food Drive.

“Hannaford recognizes that communities increasingly face issues of hunger,” said Hannaford spokesperson Caren Epstein. “This program comes at a time when we’re hearing about hunger-relief agencies struggling to stock their shelves during the critical winter and holiday season.”

The program will run from November 13 through November 24 at participating Hannaford stores in Maine and Massachusetts. Hannaford customers can support their local food banks and feed the hungry during this two-week campaign by purchasing a $5 or $10 donation coupon at the register. The donation coupons represent virtual baskets of items that include items that the food banks need.

After the program is completed, Hannaford will distribute the donated food to one of three food banks: Good Shepherd Food Bank in Maine and Worcester County Food Bank or Greater Boston Food Bank in Massachusetts. The quantity of product sent to each food bank will be determined by the number of donations made at stores within their service area. All food will be directed to the communities from which donations were made.

Hannaford Bros. Co., based in Scarborough, Maine, operates 145 supermarkets and food and drug combination stores in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York and Massachusetts. These stores operate under the Hannaford Supermarket and Hannaford Supermarket and Pharmacy names. Hannaford employs more than 24,000 associates. The company is owned by Delhaize Group of Brussels, Belgium. Additional information about the company can be found at its web site www.hannaford.com.