The Pacific Northwest loves its local heroes who have made it in the international spotlight, and Food Network star Sandra Lee is no different.

The Sumner native will be at the Spring Fair in Puyallup on Saturday to help raise awareness of hunger in our country. The first 300 guests who bring generous donations (non-perishable food or financial donations) to the ShowPlace Stage starting at 10 a.m. will receive a wristband, which provides admission to Lee’s live cooking demonstration at 2 p.m.

Lee, born in Sumner, still has family in the area. She decided to bring a cause that is near to her heart, feeding the homeless and hungry to the Spring Fair in Puyallup. Why that cause? She was the oldest of five children, and became the adult of the family at an early age. Without food stamps and the generosity of others, live would be been extremely difficult. She remembers, and is paying it forward in a big way.

Lee was awarded the President’s Volunteer Service Award for her involvement with charitable and philanthropic organizations. She is the national spokesperson for Share Our Strength’s Great American Bake Sale and Operation Frontline, two groundbreaking programs focusing on ending childhood hunger in America.

ValPak and the Spring Fair are partnering in the community project. Donations will benefit food banks in Auburn, Bonney Lake, Federal Way, Puyallup and Sumner.

Discount gate tickets are available through Sunday at participating Safeway stores, Fred Meyer stores, and South Hill Mall for $7.50 (adults), and $5.50 (students 6-18 years). A coupon is included with the discount tickets at those locations, which offers the Ride & Game Saver Pack, including seven rides or games for $16.

Adult gate tickets are $9 at the gate, and students (6-18 years) are $7 at the gate. Children 5 years and under are free. Parking is free.

Hours are Thursday from 2–10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday 10 a.m.–10 p.m.; and Sunday from 10 a.m.– 8 p.m.

The Spring Fair in Puyallup started in 1990, and features family fun. Free entertainment stages, racing pigs, a lumberjack show, the Northwest Junior Livestock Show and Sale, and more shows will be featured at the April 14-17 Spring Fair.

For further information about the Spring Fair in Puyallup, or the Sept. 9-25, 2011 Puyallup Fair, visit www.thefair.com, or text “FAIR” to 75868.