This Thursday is Food Lion Hunger Relief Day at the fair, which means you can get in free that day if you bring four cans of Food Lion brand food to the gate.

All of the food collected goes to the Food Bank of North Carolina.

Last year's canned food drive collected 247,569 pounds of food, which equals 208,479 meals. NC Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler says this year's goal is 300,000 pounds of food.

If fairgoers break last year’s record, the fair will donate $1,000 to the food bank. If collections top 275,000 pounds, the fair will kick in $2,500. And if collections reach 300,000 pounds, the fair will donate $5,000 to the food bank.

Food bank personnel say each dollar collected helps fund four meals. A donation of $5,000 would fund 20,000 meals.

So if you're able, go ahead and toss a 5th (or 6th) can in your sack when you head out Thursday!

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Speaking of feeding the hungry ... The Pork Chop Shop, which has been a fair staple for more than 20 years, is donating a portion of this year's proceeds to The Food Effect, a campaign co-sponsored by the N.C. Pork Council, which supports North Carolina food banks in an effort to fight childhood hunger in local communities. You can also donate to the campaign through The Food Effect website.

The Pork Chop Shop is located between Dorton Arena and the Education Building, near Gate 1.

Senior citizens and military personel will have their days at the State Fair this week.

Anyone 65 and older gets into the fair free every day, but on Tuesday seniors also get a free breakfast and a festival just for them. The Senior Citizens Fun Festival takes place in Dorton Arena starting at 9 a.m.

On Wednesday, active duty, reserve and National Guard service members or their spouses with valid military ID will be admitted free along with four guests. There will be special military-themed activities and concerts by military bands from across the state, beginning at 9 a.m.

    You can help someone in need when you come to the fair Thursday by paying for your ticket with cans of food instead of cash.

    For every four cans of food you bring, you’ll receive one admission ticket, worth up to $7, during Food Lion Hunger Relief Day.

    The cans go to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina, which provides food to local soup kitchens and food pantries in a 34-county area.

    Last year, the food bank collected 174,000 pounds of food from fairgoers, the equivalent of 147,000 meals. That makes it one of the largest one-day canned food drives in the state.

    Bring your canned goods to any entrance gate on Thursday, and food bank volunteers and staff will be there to exchange it for a ticket and the warm feeling that comes from doing good.