CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Kroger is asking customers to help bring hope to tables across the country through mid-June.

Every time customers purchase participating items in stores across West Virginia and surrounding states, proceeds will help fight hunger, said Allison McGee, customer communications specialist for Kroger.

"Hunger relief is our No. 1 initiative, and it always has been. It's a natural fit for us," McGee said. "Our main goal is to help reduce hunger in the communities we live in and serve. Our customers tell us this is something they really care about, and we care about our customers."

Kroger hopes to generate about $4 million in cash and food donations for food banks across the country, including the Huntington Area Food Bank and the Mountaineer Food Bank in Gassaway.

About $3 million in cash and $1 million in products would create 25 million meals to assist the 80 food banks the company currently provides for, all of which are members of Feeding America, the nation's largest hunger-relief organization.

Since 2006, Kroger has contributed $30 million in food and funding to local food banks through the Bringing Hope to the Table campaign.

Forbes Magazine named Kroger the most generous company in America in 2011.

"Bringing Hope to the Table is a unique opportunity for our customers to join with Kroger to feed our hungry neighbors," said Kroger spokesman Carl York in a statement. "This is an effort of customers, associates and vendors to provide resources to area food banks that support our communities."

Products will be marked with special tags to indicate their pledge to support the campaign, McGee said.

Participating vendors include Kellogg's, Dannon, Nabisco, Kashi, General Mills, PepsiCo, Kraft Foods and more.

For more information, visit www.bringinghopetothetable.com

Reach Mackenzie Mays at mackenzie.m...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5100.