BUFFALO, NY - The Taste of Buffalo presented by TOPS is asking people to tweet for a good cause this holiday season. Starting today through December 9, the local food festival is running a Twitter contest to benefit the Food Bank of Western New York's Food 2 Families campaign in conjunction with TOPS Markets.

Twitter followers of @tasteofbuffalo will be entered to win a $100 gift card to TOPS Markets by contributing to the Food 2 Families campaign and submitting a photo showing their donation to the @tasteofbuffalo Twitter account. TOPS Markets will also donate a $100 TOPS gift card to the Food Bank of Western New York in the winner's name.

There are two ways to qualify for the contest. From December 2 through December 9, participants can purchase a $5, $10 or $20 Little Brown Bag of Hope at the cash register at any participating TOPS location. The bag contains food that will be donated to the Food Bank of Western New York. Contest entrants should snap a photo holding their donated brown bag and submit it to the @tasteofbuffalo Twitter account.

Additionally, on December 9 only, contest entrants can donate cash or a non-perishable food item at one of six TOPS collection sites. They must submit a photo of their donation at the collection site to the @tasteofbuffalo Twitter account. Participating sites include TOPS stores at the following locations:

·       4777 Transit Road, Depew

·       7200 Niagara Falls Boulevard, Niagara Falls

·       3890 Maple Road, Amherst

·       2101 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo

·       6150 South Park Avenue, Hamburg

·       5827 S. Transit Road, Lockport

Twitter entries must be received by 11:59P.M. (EST) on December 9, 2011.

The 2012 Taste of Buffalo presented by TOPS will take place Saturday, July 7 and Sunday, July 8 along Delaware Avenue from Chippewa Street to Niagara Square in downtown Buffalo. For more information and the contest's official rules, visit http://www.tasteofbuffalo.com/food-2-families-twitter-contest.