New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS): India Food Banking Network (IFBN) Wednesday launched a foodbank in Noida and Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh, an official said.

Ensuring a sustained supply of basic food items, the bank will cater to families identified on the basis of various socio-economic indicators in select villages of Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar of Uttar Pradesh.

"Indian communities have a tradition (called "langar") of feeding the hungry. We are a country of over 220 million hungry people. The initiative is working towards bringing together donors and seekers to help provide food to each household, so that we reach the maximum number of people," Sam Pitroda, chairperson of the IFBN, said.

The initiative, in collaboration with the Ponty Chadha Foundation, urges communities and individuals to come forward and donate food and money for the needy.

Until now, a total of 40 families have been identified in Ghaziabad through a process of surveys. This is the second foodbank by the foundation, after one for Delhi and another for Gurgaon in Haryana.

IFBN is a national-level hunger relief programme that supports thousands of existing feeding programmes in India by leveraging food banking.

Those interested in donating can send an SMS on the toll-free number 58888, following which volunteers will come to collect food items to be stored at warehouses. The foundation will also conduct food collection drives at various corporate houses and malls.