Two locations in Suffolk are joining a statewide food drive this week to stock Virginia food banks.

Suffolk Christian Church, 216 N. Main St., will accept food on Tuesday, according to the AARP Virginia Community Food Drive website. Suffolk Fellowship, 201 E. Washington St., will accept food Tuesday through Thursday, as well as Saturday.

According to a new AARP survey released last week, 72 percent of Virginians believe hunger is an important issue in the state. An even larger number, 82 percent, said they were willing to donate food.

Nearly six percent of seniors in Virginia are at risk of hunger, according to the AARP, and more than 17 percent of Virginians have reported there have been times in the past year that they did not have enough money to buy food.

The drive began Sunday, and a record number of food collection sites — more than 300 — are participating. Some sites have already had success, according to an AARP news release, with more than 1,200 pounds collected in Falmouth and 500 pounds gathered in Spotsylvania.

Local residents are encouraged to drop off any non-perishable food, as long as it’s not in a glass container, at the collection sites. Items most needed include peanut butter, chunky soups, canned meats, canned tuna, canned vegetables, crackers, hot and cold cereal, pasta, rice and canned fruit.

The AARP Virginia food drive is a partnership with AmeriCorps Virginia, Federation of Virginia Food Banks, Ruritan National and TRIAD. It is the fourth statewide food drive AARP Virginia has undertaken.

The collection at Suffolk Christian Church will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Tuesday.

At Suffolk Fellowship, collections will be held from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday; from 11 a.m. to noon on Thursday; and from 1:30 to 6 p.m. on Saturday.

For more information, visit www.createthegood.org/va.