The Ron Paul campaign will distribute approximately 2,000 empty plastic bags to homes in Urbandale, West Des Moines, Clive and Windsor Heights today and Saturday as part of a food drive.

Joel Kurtinitis, a volunteer district director for Paul Republican presidential campaign, said volunteers will pick up the filled bags on Monday and take them to the Food Bank of Iowa before Thanksgiving.

He acknowledged that Paul workers have plenty to do on the campaign front, but that the food drive was organized because "Ron Paul firmly believes that the virtue and generosity of the American people - not government intervention - is the most powerful means of providing help for the less fortunate."

He said he didn't know specifically, which areas of the suburbs would get the bags, but that 2,000 bags was the number the campaign had enough volunteers to handle.

The Food Bank says the most needed items are:

High protein items - canned meats (chicken and tuna) and peanut butter

Canned soups

Instant oatmeal

Boxed meal kits

100% Fruit Juice

Personal and paper products (toilet paper, paper towels, bar soap, diapers, toothpaste)