Stop and Shop in Rutgers Plaza helped raise food and cash donations for the Franklin Food Bank on April 28.

More than 900 pounds of food and $600 in donations was gathered April 28 for the Franklin Food Bank at the two township Stop and Shop supermarkets.

The donations were made as part of the chain’s second annual “Feeding Our Families” food drive.

Stop and Shop stores are located in Rutgers Plaza on Easton Avenue and on Route 27 in Franklin Park.

Mark Blackwel, manager of the Rutgers Plaza Stop and Shop, said the food drive allows the chain to “give back to the community.”

“Not everybody is as fortunate as us,” he said. “They struggle to put food on the table.”

Customers wishing to donate could either give cash or they could take a shopping list of items needed by the food bank and donate them after they were purchased.

Blackwell said Stop and Shops throughout New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Massachusetts were taking part in the food drive.

Nancy LaCorte, coordinator of fund raising and special events for the food bank, said drives such as this one help teh food bank meet the needs of its clients.

“We’re currently feeding 1,800 Franklin families in need,” she said. “Last year we distributed over 1.3 million pounds of food through our warehouse.”

“Your neighbors in need just need a little help,” she said. “If you can help your neighbors, that’s really important.”