This spring, Connecticut Food Bank will mark the fifth anniversary of its Plant a Row for the Hungry campaign.

The campaign encourages home and community gardeners and farmers to plant an extra row of produce specifically to donate to local hunger-relief efforts.

Every extra tomato, squash, or watermelon can go a long way to help feed those who don't have enough to eat every day. While Connecticut has the highest per capita income in the U.S., about 390,000 people are at risk of hunger each year. They are children, working parents, people with disabilities and seniors.

Since CT Food Bank launched the Plant a Row for the Hungry campaign in 2006, the program has collected about 11,400 pounds of fresh produce for people struggling with hunger in Connecticut.

Marilyn Wilkes, a volunteer coordinator for the program in Connecticut hopes to grow the program by getting gardeners, farmers, schools, places of worship, youth and community groups and businesses to add a row of seedbeds, or donate their surplus produce to Connecticut Food Bank. Donations are tax-deductible and donor receipts will be provided.

To help gardeners get started, CT Food Bank is giving away free tomato seeds donated by H.J. Heinz Company. Call the Food Bank at 203-469-5000 for details.

Fruits and vegetables most needed are spinach, kale, cucumbers, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, carrots, peas, green beans, tomatoes, sweet peppers, eggplants, summer and winter squash, zucchini, beets and garlic.

Drop-offs can be made at: Any of CT Food Bank's warehouses in East Haven, Fairfield, and Waterbury; a local food pantry in your community; for large donations call Marilyn Wilkes at 203-415-4712 to arrange a pick-up.