Weis Markets raised $200,000 in donations on behalf of local food banks in its five state marketing territory, an effort which complements the company's month-long Fight Hunger Food Drive that resulted in the collection of more than 50,000 pounds of shelf stable food products for local food banks and pantries.

In thanking the Sunbury, Pa.-based chain's customers for their generosity, Weis Markets' president/c.o.o. David J. Hepfinger said: "We also wanted to follow up with donations of our own during a time of surging food bank demand. Our donations will benefit the food banks we partnered with on our Fight Hunger Food Drive, which will in turn benefit the many emergency food organizations they serve."

Among the benefactors of Weis Markets' donations were: the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank (Harrisburg and Williamsport branches), the Greater Berks Food Bank (Reading), Second Harvest Food Bank of the Lehigh Valley and Northeast, Pa.; Maryland Food Bank; Weinberg Northeast Regional Food Bank (Scranton-Wilkes-Barre region); The Breadbasket of Northeast Pa., Food Bank of the Southern Tier (Elmira); Northwest Community Action Program Food Bank (Phillipsburg, N.J.) and Mountaineer Food Bank (West Virginia).

Weis Markets' Fight Hunger Food Drive was a month-long food drive which took place in all of its 155 stores in five states through Oct. 3. Donated foods included high demand items such as: cereal, apple sauce, pasta, granola bars, canned beans, 100 percent fruit juice, canner fruit, grated cheese, rice, boxed macaroni and cheese, peanut butter, soups, canned sauce, instant potatoes, canned chicken and fish, canned vegetables and boxed skillet dinners.