A challenge has gone out for the community to fill a dragon boat with nonperishable food items during Saturday's parade.

Together with the Pitt Meadows Paddling Club, the Friends In Need Food Bank hopes to fill a dragon boat with non-perishable food during Saturday's Pitt Meadows Day parade.

Organizers of the parade have positioned the paddling club immediately behind the food bank in the parade order so that spectators may run up and drop the food into the boat, said parade organizer George Coghlan.

"It's in the parade itself," Coghlan said of the food collection. "People are challenged to fill the dragon boat."

Items needed by the food bank include: baby formula, all sizes of diapers, canned fruit, canned vegetables, canned fish, canned meats, side dishes (Hamburger Helper, Sidekicks), pasta, rice, and other non-perishable food items.

For a full list of needed items, people can visit their website at friendsneedfood.com, Coghlan said, encouraging parade spectators to grab a few items from the pantry or the grocery store before Saturday.

editorial@mrtimes.com