The N.C. State Fair’s annual canned food drive generated more than 166,000 pounds of donated food on Thursday.

Fairgoers received one free admission ticket, valued at up to $7, for every four cans of food they brought to the fair. The cans were collected by the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina, which provides food to local soup kitchens and food pantries in a 34-county area.

Known this year as Food Lion Hunger Relief Day, the canned food drive is one of the largest in the state. This year’s donations are enough to provide about 140,000 meals, according to the food bank.

Like fair attendance itself, the volume of food donations was down from last year, when 174,000 pounds were collected. The attendance Thursday was 80,094, or about 8,700 less than last year.

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.