LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Saturday, Oct. 22, is a nationwide day of volunteering, known as “Make A Difference Day.”

For the 17th year in a row here in Lake County, there will be a collection of nonperishable food for local communities. The total amount of food collected in the first 16 years is 59,928 pounds.

Several years ago, Lake Transit Authority joined the effort and it was turned into the “Stuff-A-Bus” event.

Lake Transit will once again park two buses that will be stuffed with the food collected. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 22, North Coast Opportunities, Community Action and the Lake County Hunger Task Force will be staffing the two collection sites along with volunteers from the Kelseyville High School Interact club and AmeriCorps.

One bus will be parked at the Clearlake Grocery Outlet store in Clearlake and the other at Bruno's Shop Smart in Lakeport.

All of the food collected will stay in Lake County. Local pantries and senior centers are greatly in need of donations to fill their shelves. These pantries operate year-round, and are invaluable to their local communities.

This food collection will be split evenly between the Live Oak Senior Center, Lakeport Senior Center, Highlands Senior Center, Northshore Community Center, Catholic Charities Rural Food Project in Kelseyville, Helping Hand, Clear Lake Gleaners, The Bridge, CCHAP, Snake Lady Yvonne Cox, Lake Family Resource Center, One Step Away, Kelseyville Presbyterian Church, Healthy Start, United Christian Parish, United Methodist Church, Clearlake and Middletown, Fresh Winds and North Coast Opportunities.

There are barrels out now at several locations to collect food before the actual event. The barrels are located at the Lakeport Library, Peoples Services thrift stores and offices, Lake County Office of Education, Konocti Christian Academy, Meadowbrook Headstart, Woodland Community College, Clearlake campus Culinary club, Riviera Foods, Clearlake Grocery Outlet, Cobb Mountain Elementary School, Live Well Clinic and St. Helena Clinic in Clearlake, and Social Services.

If you would like to make a donation and are unable to bring it on Saturday, please take it to one of the above locations. Please, no expired or past dated food.

The effort is once again counting on the generosity of local people to make a difference.

Additional volunteers will be welcome at either site. They must be registered beforehand, so please call Tammy Alakszay at 707-994-4647, Extension 123; Lorrie Gray at 707-277-9227; or sign up at www.ncoinc.org .