Give something back during St. Pat's parade ... but please don't throw cans

One of the best things about parades is snatching up all that candy tossed from passing floats.

But the organizers of the annual Lake Villa St. Patrick's Day Parade are switching up things and asking parade-goers to toss something back.

The theme for this year's parade is "Help the Leprechaun fill the Caboose."

Hoping to start a new tradition, parade planners are asking folks to bring nonperishable food items to help stock the Lake Villa Township Food Pantry.

The 13th annual parade begins Saturday at noon.

Sponsored by the village of Lake Villa and the Lake Villa VFW, the parade starts at Palombi Middle School, continues on Cedar Avenue, and ends at the Metra train station.

Lake Villa Township Supervisor Dan Venturi said another sign of troubled times is that the demand for food at the pantry has increased dramatically since last year.

"We averaged about 35 people coming to the pantry in February of 2008," he said. "This past month, we averaged almost 140 people. The need is huge."

Venturi credits parade organizer Betty Burns with the idea for the food donations.

"Given the times we're in now, Betty thought it would be good for people to give something instead of just getting candy thrown to them," he said.

People are asked to bring nonperishable food items to be collected along the parade route. Venturi said cash donations are also welcome. The money will be used to buy food from the Northern Illinois Food Bank.

In keeping with tradition, a corned beef and cabbage lunch will be served at the VFW hall at 1 p.m. The cost is $7.50 for adults and $5 for kids under 12. A hot dog plate is $4.

Venturi also said there's plenty of open seats for the St. Patrick's Day senior lunch on Friday. Sponsored by Lake Villa Township, the annual event is at noon at the township's West Campus, 37850 N. Route 59, near Lake Villa. The cost is $5.

"I'll be wearing my leprechaun suit," Venturi said. "You don't want to miss it."