The Food Bank of the Southern Tier hosted a "GratiTour"  at Wegmans locations across the region today to celebrate the success of the 31st Annual Check Out Hunger campaign. 

According to Food Bank executive director Mark Bordeau, one in seven individuals and one in five children across the Southern Tier are at risk of hunger — the highest rate since 2014. Given these statistics, he said it is important that they are holding campaigns like this one.

"Food insecurity is so tough to live day to day if you don't have the vital nutrients to go around and do your work. So we want to raise awareness that we can solve food security. We just need to help out," Bordeau said.

Thanks to the generous donations by customers at checkout, Wegmans stores across the region raised an impressive $222,443 dollars — which translates to 667,329 meals for the community.

But the fight against hunger is far from over. Organizers said that the food bank is always accepting donations and volunteers.

For more information, visit FoodBankST.org.