Puyallup Fair begin its annual food drive on opening day, Sept. 7.

Guests can take advantage of free gate admission to the fair from 9 a.m. to noon, sponsored by Sleep Number, with a recommended donation of a can or bag of non-perishable food.

Each item is donated to the Puyallup Food Bank so they can feed our community members in need. Media partners for the food drive are KOMO 4, KOMO Newsradio AM 1000/97.7 FM and KOMOnews.com.

In an effort to continue the pattern of breaking donation records, fair officials hope to collect at least 200,000 pounds of food this year.

The Puyallup Fair broke its first record in food donations in 2009. The community donated 25,000 pounds of food on opening day, a one-day donation record for the Puyallup Food Bank.

When KOMO 4, KOMO Newsradio AM 1000/97.7 FM and KOMOnews.com joined in to promote opening day at the fair and sponsor the food drive in 2010, an astounding 90,000 pounds of food was collected. With their promotional help again in 2011, the fair collected over 160,000 pounds of food.

The Puyallup Fair, started in 1900, is one of the biggest fairs in the world. Star-studded entertainment, the PRCA Rodeo, rides, exhibits, food, flowers and animals are mainstays of the 17-day event in September.

For more info about the Sept. 7-23 fair, visit www.thefair.com/puyallup-fair or text “FAIR” to 75868.