This year, he added, the Walter and Elise Haas Fund has offered a matching grant, donating 50 cents for every pound of food raised, up to 10,000 pounds. The 1999 drive amassed 6,700 pounds of food.
Suggested items for donation include canned meats, fruits or vegetables; pasta and sauce; fruit juices; tuna; peanut butter; beans and rice; and infant formula.
For information about the Alameda County Community Food Bank, call (510) 834-3663 or check out www.accfb.org.