NILES, Ohio - Valley residents lined up outside the Eastwood Mall in Niles on Saturday to drop off canned goods and get a ticket that could win them cash and prizes from Ohio Lottery's Cash Explosion game show.

Mike Iberis, with Second Harvest Food Bank, calls the event a win, win situation. He says the food drive will help put food on people's tables and the donors will have the chance to win prizes and money from the Ohio Lottery.

People had been camped outside the mall since 8:00 a.m. to be a part of the audience for two tapings of the Lottery's very popular Cash Explosion game show.

The executive producer of Cash Explosion, Barry Riley, tells 21 News that a lot of work goes into bringing the show to viewers. He says it's always exciting to go on the road and meet the fans. He says there's lot of fun and excitement, plus prizes and money to give away.

The minimum prize for the 16 contestants in the two shows that were taped was $5,000. The most a contestant could win during one turn was $50,000.

Contestants, their family and friends were extremely excited to take part in the show. Tod Knutsen, from Mingo Junction, Ohio, said he was excited his girlfriend was a contestant. She put in two scratch off tickets that allowed her to enter for a chance to be on the show and her name was drawn for the Niles show.

The 30 minute show takes about an hour to tape.

The shows that were taped at the Eastwood Mall will air on September 29th and October 6th on 21 WFMJ.