NORTHAMPTON — The Hampshire, Franklin & Hampden Agricultural Society, the nonprofit organization that manages the Three County Fair and fairgrounds, will conduct its 2024 Food Drive on Saturday, April 13 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. outside of its main office at 54 Fair St., Northampton.

The fair is seeking non-perishable foods such as canned fruit, vegetables, and tuna, plus cereal, pasta, pasta sauce, and peanut butter for area food pantries that have partnered with the fair. This year’s recipients include Providence Ministries’ Margaret’s Pantry in Holyoke, the Easthampton Community Center, the Franklin County Community Meals Program in Greenfield, Helping Hands Cupboard Food Pantry in Belchertown, and the Westhampton Congregational United Church of Christ food pantry.

“Food insecurity continues to negatively impact so many individuals and families throughout our region,” said Tom Smiarowski, president of the society. “The pantries that we partner with are doing heroic work helping those in need due to the increased demand for assistance they experience every day. And the Three County Fair is pleased to play a role in supporting their efforts.”

Each vehicle that donates a minimum of 10 in-date items will be supplied with a pair of complimentary tickets to the 2024 Three County Fair, running Aug. 30 to Sept. 2. The fair requests that donations be compiled in disposable bags or boxes for volunteers to easily accept them from vehicles.

NORTHAMPTON — The Hampshire, Franklin & Hampden Agricultural Society, the nonprofit organization that manages the Three County Fair, the oldest ongoing agricultural fair in the country, will conduct a drive-thru food drive on Saturday, March 26 outside its main office at 54 Fair St. in Northampton. The fair held its last food drive in the spring of 2020 during the onset of the pandemic and delivered more than 2,000 pounds of food to area pantries.

The fair is seeking non-perishable foods such as canned fruit, soup, tuna, and vegetables, plus cereal, pasta, pasta sauce, and peanut butter for area food pantries that have partnered with the fair, including the Easthampton Community Center, the Franklin County Meals Program, the Helping Hands Cupboard Food Pantry at BOCC in Belchertown, and the Westhampton Congregational United Church of Christ food pantry.

“The pandemic created food insecurity for many families for the first time and increased the need for others,” said Gerry Devine, a member of the society’s board of directors. “Because of the continued hardship of so many, the success of our last food drive, and the extreme generosity of our community willing to help their neighbors, we are proud to once again provide this service.”

Each vehicle that donates will be supplied with a pair of complimentary tickets to the 2022 Three County Fair, scheduled for Sept. 2-5. Donations can be dropped off at the fair’s main office at 54 Fair St. in Northampton between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. The fair requests that donations be compiled in disposable bags or boxes for volunteers to easily accept them from vehicles.