With kids home for the summer, and six months until the holiday season of generosity and giving, sometimes the cupboards of local food pantries can get a little bare.

To help, The Department of Recreation, Parks and Community Services will be hold its eighth annual Camp Cares food drive. During July, students attending the Kool Kids, Super Stars, Summer Scene and Daisy camps will be asked to bring in food to replenish the dwindling supplies usually given township residents in need, to MCFOODS, the Middlesex County Emergency Food Distribution Network, which provides food to 60 area food pantries and soup kitchens, and to the Aldersgate Crisis Room.

Campers will be asked to bring food on a particular day, and depending on their success, could net some food of their own. The camp that collects the most food will be given a pizza party.

But it doesn’t have to be just for campers. Individuals can bring in donations all year to the East Brunswick Department of Recreation, 350 Dunhams Corner Road.

Items that are most needed are peanut butter, jelly, brown rice, tuna fish, macaroni and cheese, canned fruits, meats, stew, vegetables, pastas, paper products, toiletries, soap, shampoo, toothpaste, baby supplies and diapers and wipes. Please donate canned and packaged goods only, no glass, and check the expiration date before donating.

Students attending Kool Kids half day at Frost, Super Stars half day at Irwin, Super Stars full day at Chittick and Summer Scene 1 at Churchill should bring their donations in on Tuesday, July 19.

Campers in Kool Kids full day at Warnsdorfer, Summer Scene half day at Churchill, Summer Scene 2 a Hammarskjold and Camp Daisy should bring their donations in on Wed. July 20.

For more information call 732-390-6797.