CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Grocery stores in Clarksville will have a few extra greeters this Saturday as Manna Café Ministries holds its Fifth Annual Combat Hunger event to collect food and donations for the hungry in Clarksville.

Combat Hunger is one of the largest fundraisers Manna Café does.

“It’s one of those that we count on every year,” said Manna Café director Kenny York. He and his wife started the non-profit in 2008. It’s a lot of work, but anything worth doing is, he said.

The 2013 Combat Hunger event will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at local Kroger, Walmart and Food Lion locations as well as Hilltop Supermarket, Dollar General Market on Madison, Sam’s Club and GFS. Volunteers will have handouts listing needed items. The list includes things like canned goods, peanut butter, cereal and baby food.

Combat Hunger has collected more than 15,000 pounds of food in years past, according to York. He said the organization’s goal this year is 20,000 pounds.

The food and donations enable Manna Café to serve 600 meals a week at its location on Franklin Street. It distributes food boxes to 1,700 families a month and organizes mobile food pantries where volunteers set up in different locations to hand out food boxes to families who may not have transportation. York estimates Manna Café distributed roughly 750,000 pounds of food in 2013.

It’s a lot of work, but anything worth doing is, York said of Combat Hunger and Manna Café Ministries in general.

“So many people are doing everything they can and just can’t make ends meet,” he said.

This year the city and county governments recognized the contributions and importance of Manna Café with proclamations declaring Nov. 9 as Combat Hunger Day in Clarksville and Montgomery County.

York said he feels good about the event and its growth. He said it’s a chance for people to give – or to give back.

“We’ve heard people say, ‘I’ve had to get food from you before. Here’s a little something.’ And they put a few cans in the buggy,” York said.

Combat Hunger locations:• Hilltop Supermarket, 400 Tennessee 149, Clarksville, TN 37040
• Dollar General Market, 1945 Madison St., Clarksville, TN 37043
• Food Lion at 2304 Madison St., Clarksville, TN 37041 and 1764 Tennessee 48, Clarksville, TN 37040
• GFS, 2809 Wilma Rudolph Blvd., Clarksville, TN 37040
• Sam’s Club, 3315 Guthrie Hwy., Clarksville, TN 37040
• Walmart, 3050 Wilma Rudolph Blvd., Clarksville, TN 37040
• Walmart, 2315 Madison St., Clarksville, TN 37043
• Walmart, 1680 Fort Campbell Blvd, Clarksville, TN 37042
• Kroger, 2100 Lowes Drive, Clarkville, TN 37040
• Kroger, 110 Dover Crossing, Clarksville, TN 37042
• Kroger, 1489 Madison St. Clarksville, TN 37040