Columbia, SC (WLTX) -- The Paper Plate Campaign, an initiative by Harvest Hope Food Bank to raise awareness of children's hunger in South Carolina, wrapped up its planning Friday.

The non-profit group has collected hundreds of decorated paper plates, and organizers say they'll send the plates to Washington, DC. They say they want to spread awareness about the fact that thousands of people go to bed with empty stomachs each night.

Next week, officials say they will send the 500 decorated plates to the nation's capitol. Each plate sports a personalized message.

Officials say November is the perfect time for the campaign, as budget woes have put funding for children's feeding programs on the chopping block.