File photo.

The Big Fresno Fair and Fresno State are preparing to kick off the annual “Feed the Need” food drive on the university campus on Wednesday.

From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., community members and students are asked to bring ten or more canned food items per person to the Red Lot at Fresno State (entrance on Barstow Avenue just west of Cedar Avenue) in exchange for one free fair admission ticket.

Donations can also be provided online.

The food drive will benefit the Fresno State Student Cupboard, a university initiative that provides free food and hygiene items to current Fresno State students in need.

“While the economy is strengthening, we are still seeing an increase in the need for food assistance where families are unsure when and where they will get their next meal,” said Andy Souza, CEO of Central California Food Bank “This food drive is part of a variety of efforts needed to meet that growing need and we could not be more grateful to the Fair for this partnership and everyone in the community who has turned out to support this effort during the last nine years.”

Special recognition for this program will take place as part of the Fair’s Opening Ceremonies on Oct. 3 at 10 a.m. in the Turf Club on the 4th floor of the Grandstand.

Feed the Need began in 2009 as a result of California’s drought and high unemployment rates in Fresno County’s Westside cities

Last year, the Fresno State food drive collected nearly 40,000 pounds of food.