(RALEIGH) -- Preparations are under way for an effort to package and donate one million meals to struggling families in North Carolina. It's the "Drive to End Hunger" sponsored by AARP Foundation.  Kay Carter is the Executive Director for Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina. She said the need is greater than ever.

"The donations never out pace the need.  You do the very best you can to feed as many people as you can, a million meals that's tremendous," said Carter.

Organizers are looking for 3,500 volunteers to help with the "Drive to End Hunger."  The meals collected in the effort will be distributed to food banks across North Carolina.

According to figures from the United States Department of Agriculture, almost 24 percent of residents in North Carolina reported not having enough money to buy food in the last year.