By: Kara Murphy

More than 80,000 residents around Northeast Georgia suffer from hunger every year, according to Feeding America. The Food Bank of Northeast Georgia and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group are teaming up with independent bookstores to begin a food drive competition inspired by the book “Crenshaw” by Katherine Applegate.

Organizations participating include Avid Bookshop, Strong Girls, ReBlossom and Broad 9A. Bookstores can register by Oct. 15 to participate in the food drive that lasts through the end of October. For every bookstore that signs up, Macmillan will donate $100 to No Kid Hungry, an organization devoted to ending childhood hunger.

The bookstore that collects the most non-perishable food items will win a visit from author Katherine Applegate. She will do Skype visits with the three runner-ups.