In a bid to help food banks prepare for the coming winter months, Weis Markets is kicking off its "Fight Hunger" Food Drive this week. The drive is a monthlong, chain-wide program that will enable shoppers to donate shelf-stable products to food banks and emergency food providers in the communities the grocer serves.

The program starts Thursday and runs through the end of September, which is Hunger Action Month, in all Weis stores, including its King's and Mr. Z's banners, in five states.

"We've talked to food banks in our service area, and we're hearing about the increased need for food donations this year," said Weis president and c.e.o. David J. Hepfinger. "We'd like to help. With our Fight Hunger Food Drive, our associates and customers will have the opportunity to support 11 food banks and the hundreds of emergency food providers they serve. We will also make monetary donations to each of these food banks at the end of our campaign."

According to Hepfinger, Weis has worked with food banks to compile a list of the shelf-stable foods most needed. The list includes cereal, apple sauce, pasta, granola bars, canned beans, 100 percent fruit juice, canned fruit, grated cheese, rice, boxed macaroni and cheese, peanut butter, soups, canned sauce, instant potatoes, canned chicken and fish, canned vegetables, and boxed skillet dinners.

Each Weis store will feature a Fight Hunger shelf display. After customers buy the foods earmarked for donation, they can put them in a tan Fight Hunger bag to drop in a specially marked donation collection cart near checkout. Donors can then sign an "I Helped Fight Hunger" badge for display in each store's front window.

Sunbury, Pa.-based Weis operates 156 stores in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and West Virginia.