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FAIRFIELD — Frosted Flakes, vanilla wafers, graham crackers and more.

Kroger Co. delivered nearly 14,000 pounds of food and donated $35,000 to the Shared Harvest Foodbank in Fairfield on Thursday, June 19, to help fill the shelves at area pantries.

"At a time when more and more people are standing in line at pantries Kroger comes through again," said Tina Osso, director of the food bank that serves Butler, Warren, Preble, Miami and Darke counties.

Due to the sluggish economy and soaring gas prices, Osso said, area pantries and soup kitchens have been struggling to serve the increasing number of needy families this summer.

She said every dollar of the $35,000 will provide eight meals and the nearly 14,000 pounds of food — valued at $15,000 — will provide 14,000 meals.

The donation was part of the grocery chain's "Bringing Hope to the Table" promotion.

The promotion encourages customers to purchase items to support local food banks, said Rachel Betzler, a spokeswoman for the Dayton-Cincinnati region.

"During this economic time, hunger is definitely a priority and on the top of the minds of many people. We're proud to partner with area foodbanks to help feed the needy in communities we serve every day," Betzler said.

In the last two years of the promotion, Kroger, which has 109 stores in the region, has donated about $79,000 to Shared Harvest.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2180 or tlatta@coxohio.com.