At least 163 orchestras in 45 states are expected to participate in food drives in late March, a month before the movie’s release on April 24, the League of American Orchestras said Tuesday.

“The Soloist” is based on the true story about a schizophrenic Juilliard-trained cellist (portrayed by Jamie Foxx) who becomes homeless and is helped by a Los Angeles Times columnist (Robert Downey Jr.).

“The story of ‘The Soloist’ reminds us that classical music has the power to sustain spirits and change lives, even under the most difficult circumstances,” said Jesse Rosen, president and CEO of the league, a national service organization for orchestras.

The food will be distributed to local assistance organizations associated with the group Feeding America, which says its network provides food to more than 25 million Americans a year.

Some of the activities, as provided by the league:

• The New York Philharmonic is partnering with Food Bank For New York City to hold a food drive during a Young People’s Concert on March 28.

• The Louisiana Philharmonic will ask picnicking concertgoers to make food donations at an April 22 outdoor concert in City Park.

• The Detroit Symphony is starting a monthlong drive on March 27.

• The Gemini Youth Orchestras organization of New York’s Long Island is planning a four-hour marathon concert on April 19. Each family will be asked to donate cans of food.

• The Rhode Island Philharmonic and Music School will collect food at concerts on March 19 and 21 and at the school’s branches.

“Rhode Island is one of the hardest hit by this economic downturn,” Executive Director David J. Beauchesne said in a statement. “We want to be part of the solution, not just another organization that is asking for assistance.”