IRON MOUNTAIN/KINGSFORD -- The 4^th of July parade is a longstanding tradition in the Iron Mountain-Kingsford area.  But a group of Iron Mountain residents are using the parade to start a new tradition.

For the fifth year in a row, Andy Plumley organized a community food drive for the First Lutheran Church in Iron Mountain.

"The whole mentality was nobody thinks about the food pantry on the 4th of July,” said Plumley.  “It is Independence Day and it's great for our nation, but what if you're hungry?  Independence for hunger is a really big deal."

Plumley and a group of volunteers pushed shopping carts down the parade route collecting canned goods and monetary donations from spectators.

"Although it's summer, usually you think of [donating] around Thanksgiving, and now is a good time to keep the food pantries full,” said spectator Sam Trebilcock, who donated money this year.  “They need it now more than ever.  With the hard times, everybody's been hurting."

The food drive has become more and more popular every year.  This year more than 1900 food items and $1100 were donated…both new records.

But Plumley insists everyone deserves credit for making the food drive a success.

"All we do is collect it and distribute it.  The people that should really feel good are the people that contribute,” he said.  “Anybody that brings anything today should feel really good about how they're helping their neighbor."

Plumley said all the success with the food drive has been unexpected, and he plans to continue making this part of the 4th of July Parade for years to come.