Several local groups are coming together Saturday to collect food to help stock a local food shelf ahead of the holiday season.

Due to continued need at the Austin food shelf in the Salvation Army, the Austin Jaycees, the Austin Post Office, and volunteers from the Austin Figure Skating Club and AHS Honor Society are hosting a citywide food drive to be conducted.

The Jaycees are calling for Austin residents to place nonperishable food items in a bag or box near their mailbox by 9 a.m. on Saturday.

Volunteers will pick up the food and get it to the food shelf.

“They need the food, and we’re trying to make it as easy for people as we possibly can,” mail carrier Bob Rosel said.

The need for food items often increases in the winter months and inventories decline. As the holiday season approaches, the volunteers are hoping citizens will reflect on how much they have to be thankful for and will respond by donating to the drive.

“I do think coming into the holiday season you may be able to touch people a little more,” Rosel said.

Items that are in short supply include: condensed milk canned vegetables, beans, fruit, meat cereal, soup, crackers rice sugar, flour, salt, and pasta.

Volunteers will leave the Austin Post Office parking lot around 9 a.m. Saturday to canvas the town and pick up donations left near mailboxes. Any items missed by the volunteers will be picked up by the letter carriers as they deliver the mail. The food will be picked up rain or shine.

Austin mail carriers and Jaycees traditionally have a fall and and a spring food drive, and Rosel said the Jaycees typically take the lead in the fall while the mail carriers take the lead in the spring.