There are few images as painful as a hungry child.

Sadly, far too many of our children in Hawai'i and elsewhere go to bed hungry.

Child hunger is the focus of the Hawai'i Foodbank's annual daylong food drive today from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with drop-off centers statewide.

When it comes to feeding hungry children, the need is most acute during the summer months, when they do not have the safety net provided by the federally funded free- and reduced-price school breakfast and lunch programs.

Today's food drive, Foodbank officials say, is the main source of the canned foods most needed by agencies to feed the hungry all year. The goal is to collect 550,000 pounds of food and $450,000 in donations.

So take the time to help. Drop off some canned goods or toss in a few bucks. You can make a difference in the life of someone who really needs your help.

For a complete listing of drop-off sites and for more information go to www.hawaiifoodbank.org