On Saturday, several local groups — including the Tonganoxie football team — will work to fill a school bus with donated non-perishable food items for the local food pantry.

This team effort also will include the Tonganoxie American Legion and B&J grocery store.

The school bus actually will be parked at B&J, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

The goal is to fill the school bus with goods that will be donated to Good Shepherd Thrift Shop and Food Pantry.

“We want the public to come out there and bring non-perishables,” said American Legion member Bill Ridihalgh. “We want to see how much non-perishables we can fill this bus with.”

At this time of year, it’s so important that the local food pantry is full — and that its bank account is healthy. Many area residents seek help at Good Shepherd, whether it’s for a little aid to handle heating bills or to make the holidays a little easier.

Wouldn’t it be terrific if Tonganoxie residents opened their pantries and their hearts on Saturday and filled that school bus.

If it can happen anywhere, it can happen in Tonganoxie.