A food drive to help the hungry in Puget Sound will be conducted Nov. 9-18 at TOP Food & Drug stores.

Local food banks report steadily increasing requests for assistance as unemployment rises and the recession continues. Also, low-income families are hit harder by higher heating costs during fall and winter. Many food-bank clients are senior citizens or families with children.

“Puget Sound households, organizations, businesses and schools have been generous in helping the food banks who serve so many people in our communities and we hope that will continue,” said Becky Skaggs, spokesperson for TOP Food & Drug stores.

Food banks are seeking canned food high in protein, canned fruit and any other non-perishable food items. Donors also may purchase pre-stuffed bags of groceries that include rice, pasta and soup for $5 apiece at TOP Food & Drug stores.

All of the donated food will be distributed by local food banks.

Participating stores include:

• Auburn TOP Food & Drug, 1702 Auburn Way N.

• Bellevue TOP Food & Drug, 15751 N.E. 15th St.

• Federal Way TOP Food & Drug, 31515 20th Ave. S.

• Kent TOP Food & Drug, 26015 104th Ave. S.

• Lacey TOP Food & Drug, 5600 Martin Way.

• Lake Tapps TOP Food & Drug, 1406 Lake Tapps Pkwy. E., Auburn.

• Olympia TOP Food & Drug, 1313 Cooper Point Road.

• Puyallup TOP Food & Drug, 201 37th Ave. S.E.

• Redmond TOP Food, 7320 170th Ave. N.E.

• Shoreline TOP Food & Drug, 1201 N. 175th St.

• Tacoma TOP Food & Drug, 3130 S. 23rd St.

• Woodinville TOP Food & Drug, 17641 Garden Way N.E.

Haggen, Inc. operates 33 supermarkets in Washington and Oregon under the TOP Food & Drug and Haggen Food & Pharmacy names. Headquartered in Bellingham, it is the largest independent grocer and eighth-largest private company based in the State of Washington. For more information, visit www.Top-Foods.com.