ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) – Food shelves can always use donations, but there’s a twist — you can help by growing an extra row in your garden this year.

That way the food shelf gets fresh fruits and vegetables.

At Saturday’s Community Garden Spring Resources Fair you can pick up the seeds you’ll need for free.

It’s a new program from the Minneapolis Health Department.

“They really love to receive healthy food donations, but they rarely get enough,” Kristen Klingler said. “I think most people either can’t, or don’t want to take fresh produce. That’s actually a misconception — food shelves love to receive healthy food donations, especially fruits and vegetables.”

About 1,000 free seed packets will be given away from Highland Nursery in St. Paul.

The hope is that while you plan your own garden, you’ll think about helping those in need.

“Fresh produce is often really expensive to purchase at the grocery store,” Klingler said.

The fair runs from noon until 5 p.m. at Metropolitan State University in St. Paul.