HANCOCK — Boxes and cans of nonperishable food can go to a good cause this weekend.

Little Brothers Friends of the Elderly and Lambda Chi Alpha are hosting their annual food drive Saturday.

People should put bags of food outside their house before 9 a.m., when volunteers will begin making stops. They will be picking up bags in Houghton, Hancock, Calumet, Laurium, Lake Linden, Hubbell, Dollar Bay, Chassell and South Range.

“We’re asking people just to put their bags out in a visible location clearly marked,” said Aila Weber, activities coordinator for Little Brothers. “If it hasn’t been picked up by 3 p.m., we ask that they call our office and we can coordinate for somebody to run out and get it.”

Lambda Chi Alpha does the drive nationally, partnering with local organizations at each of its chapters. For more than 30 years, the Michigan Technological University chapter has worked with Little Brothers.

They’re hoping to collect between 7,000 and 9,000 pounds, based on previous years, Weber said.

The annual drive is the main way Little Brothers stocks its food pantry items for the year. About 80 elderly residents receive a food bag each month, Weber said; the program is needs- and age-based.

To minimize waste, Little Brothers sends out a form where people indicate what foods they want.

“A lot of these people are not necessarily mobile, so they wouldn’t otherwise be able to get out to, for example, the food bank,” Weber said.

Little Brothers is happy to accept any nonperishable goods that haven’t expired.

Items that are particularly needed are:

• evaporated/condensed milk

• cream

• corn

• beets

• stewed tomatoes

• baked beans

• chili beans

• instant white rice and stuffing

• sloppy joe sauce

• Jello/instant pudding mixes

• canned pineapple

• canned oranges

• cake, brownie, muffin, cookie and pancake mixes

• V8 and cranberry juices

• graham crackers/saltines.

Little Brothers is also looking for Depends or other adult diapers, Weber said.

“That’s something that goes out in our monthly food pantry bags to the extent that we can provide them, and we don’t always have them,” she said.

People can also donate goods to Little Brothers throughout the year, Weber said.

“We know that times are tough, but if everybody can pitch in and donate a bag, it would really greatly help those in need in our community,” she said.

For more information, contact Little Brothers at 906-482-6944.