The DNC is planning a weekend of local events to focus on affordability concerns in the Trump era

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Democratic National Committee is organizing hundreds of community events across the country this weekend in hopes of harnessing the same concerns about affordability that President Donald Trump tapped into to return to the White House.

Events include school supply giveaways, food bank drives, neighborhood door knocking, and organizer training.

“Everything costs more under Donald Trump and the Republicans,” Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin said in a statement.

Read more: A key measure of inflation jumps to a 3-year high in the latest sign of affordability challenges

Martin said party members intend to “reach, engage, register and mobilize voters who will make the difference in races up and down the ballot.”

Two years ago, it was Democrats who were accused of being indifferent to Americans’ anger over rising prices. Now they point the finger at Trump, who downplayed the impact of persistent inflation.

He has called affordability concerns a “hoax,” and recently said, “I like inflation” because he expects costs to fall as he tries to resolve his war with Iran.

About a third of American adults approve of how Trump is handling the economy, according to a June AP-NORC poll. That’s down from the start of his second term, when 40% approved.

About 7 in 10 American adults say the country’s economy is “weak,” according to a June AP-NORC poll. This is up from 65% in March, and highlights Americans’ continuing dissatisfaction with the cost of living, which is exacerbated by rising gas prices due to the war in Iran.

Read more: Trump’s economic popularity hits a new low, a poll shows

Slightly more American adults say the Democratic Party will do a better job than the GOP at handling inflation and the cost of living, according to a Marquette Law School-SSRS poll conducted in May. Nearly a third of US adults – 35% – said Democrats would do better, while 28% thought Republicans would. Nearly a third say both sides will be the same, or neither will be as good.

This weekend’s events vary by region.

In New Mexico, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham will hold training for 150 potential campaign workers. Nevada statewide campaigns will be knocking on doors in rural and working-class neighborhoods. Others will contact voters in swing districts witnessing competitive races in the US House of Representatives to talk about rising gas prices.

Some events are aimed directly at helping voters convince them that Democrats care about affordability.

For example, a local party in Kenosha County, Wisconsin, plans to collect and distribute school supplies to poor families. Participants will spread out to discuss affordability issues in Arizona, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

The Republican National Committee dismissed the weekend’s events.

“Despite being millions of dollars in debt, the Democratic National Committee is choosing to hold pathetic pep rallies to distract from the fact that it created the inflation crisis,” said Delaney Bomar, spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee. “At the same time, Republicans are working hard to fix the economic mess created by Joe Biden and the Democrats.”

Democrats hope the events show that their time in the political wilderness has made them more serious and effective in tackling kitchen table issues. But some fear their agenda may not be heard by voters in an increasingly divided media environment.

“One of Donald Trump’s greatest strengths is his very loud voice,” said Brian Derrick, a Democratic strategist. He said events like the weekend itinerary help Democrats focus on Trump’s “Achilles heel” issue, “which right now is his lack of interest in addressing people’s everyday costs.”