The largest food drive in Minnesota kicks off this weekend.

As Joel Runck tells us, with economic woes and unemployment rising, the need for food assistance is not decreasing.

This year marks the 26th- annual campaign for Minnesota Food Share.
Fruit of the Vine Food Shelf weekend Coordinator, Dan Ahlfield says the Vineyard Christian Church is gearing up for the spring season ahead.

"This is actually a slow time of year for people," said Dan Ahlfield, Fruit of the Vine Food Shelf weekend coordinator. "Our supplies can go down in March and so the surge of giving is really helpful for folks to get what they need."

Minnesota Food Share reports there were one point nine million food shelf visits across the state last year. That's up 65,000 from 2006.

"We usually go through about ten thousand pounds of food and serve about 800 people a month," said Gillian Bujold, director of the Fruit of the Vine Food Shelf.

Bujold says every dollar donated goes to the purchase of 10 dollars worth of groceries from a local food bank.

She says the people that come through the doors are from all walks of life.

"We get people that come that are homeless, we get people that are working families, predominantly we have a lot of people who are working two or three jobs and trying to make ends meet," Bujold said.

But officials say it's more than just giving out food...it's about extending that personal touch.

"It's more of a relationship than just the food," said Bujold.

Minnesota Food Share is hoping to achieve its goal of raising 25 million pounds of food across the state.