One bit of wisdom my mom always told me: Never go grocery shopping when you're hungry, because you'll buy a cart full of things you don't need.

The Hannaford Helps Fight Hunger campaign is making it so fewer local people will go in need this summer.

The campaign collected funds in the month of June -- National Hunger Awareness Month -- through $2 or $5 peel-off coupons that were placed at registers in 167 Hannaford stores in five states.

Overall, shoppers donated more than $94,000 through the coupons, and Hershey Foods contributed an additional $20,000.

Reaping the benefits of the campaign are eight northeastern food banks, including the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York in Latham, which will receive $19,197. The donation is expected to provide 75,000 meals for local people.

While food pantry shelves in Saratoga seem to be doing ok for the time being, food banks everywhere have seen a 30 percent increase in demand for their services this year, Hannaford said in a press release. The recession is making it harder for thousands of people to afford food, and more middle-class and working-poor families are seeking help.

“Hannaford works hard all year to educate the public about hunger in the community, and makes regular donations and provides technical assistance to food banks throughout our market area,” said Michael Norton, director of corporate communications at Hannaford. “There is so much need right now, though, that we decided to do something extra this summer.”