Thanks to the efforts of a local employee at the Apple Federal Credit Union, fewer needy residents will go hungry this year.

The Winchester branch is hosting a food drive throughout the month of May.

The group has a food bin right at their South Loudoun Street entrance, and is accepting non-perishable food items through May 31.

Beneficiaries can thank Katie Robertson, who heard a report on national public radio about a world food crisis and decided to take action.

"I know I have personally donated food before to the food bank, and I called and said I wanted to do this," explained Robertson. "[The food bank] responded, 'we'd be thrilled.' It went from there."

Apple Federal Credit Union is teaming up with the Blue Ridge Food Bank to make the drive possible.

Last year alone, the food bank distributed 500,000 pounds of food to the Lord Fairfax area.

Blue Ridge estimates there are about 3,000 people living below the poverty level in Winchester.