An El Dorado Hills-based youth group will sponsor a "Fill the Food Banks" blitz March 21 at several grocery stores from Orangevale to Placerville.

Youth and adult volunteers from Hands4Hope and partner agencies will staff tables at Safeway, Food 4 Less, Nugget Market, Raley's, Save Mart and Bel Air stores from 10 a.m. to 6 .m. to collect food, cash and gift cards. Shoppers will be given a wish list they can use to purchase and donate needed items.

Approximately 200 volunteers will participate with the goal of collecting 3,000 pounds of food and $8,000 in cash or gift cards.

With the economic downturn, sponsors say, the number of individuals and families turning to area food banks for help is steadily increasing.

In 2009, Hands4Hope organized two mass food drives benefiting the Food Bank of El Dorado County and the Folsom-based Twin lakes Food Bank.

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Call The Bee's Cathy Locke, (916) 773-6866.