One bus won’t be transporting students this month. Instead, hundreds of food items will be loaded into it to support the North Whidbey Help House as part of the Fill the Bus campaign.

North Whidbey Middle School, Oak Harbor Elementary School, Crescent Harbor Elementary School and Olympic View Elementary School students, families and community members can bring nonperishable food items to the schools through Nov. 18, when the bus will be driven to the Help House.

Students can drop off items at the beginning of each school day and community members can drop off items daily at the North Whidbey Middle School front office.

The drive gathered approximately 7,000 items last year, said North Whidbey Middle School teacher Larry Falcon.

“The bus was almost completely full,” Falcon said.

This is the campaign’s fourth year.

At North Whidbey Middle School, students compete by grade level and class to bring in the most items. The winners earn an ice cream social.

“You can tell the popularity of it and support for the program; as years go on it has gone well. It’s a sense of pride for our school,” Falcon said.

The most needed items at the Help House include olives, pork and beans, canned fruit, chili, stew, pasta, tomato products, soup, tuna, cereal, oatmeal and rice.

For information call 279-5500.