On Wednesday afternoon, nine students with the Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center religious school helped deliver 113 bags of groceries to the Island Food Pantry. Using three vehicles and plenty of lifting, the youngsters aged 8 to 12 got a lesson in community spirit and service, according to Nicole Cabot.

“We are trying to take part in doing good things for others, not just for the Jewish community but beyond,” she said.

Empty grocery bags were distributed to members of the Hebrew Center during Rosh Hashanah and through the Yom Kippur holidays. The bags were filled and left off at the lobby of the center. The collection is an annual event.

Last year, 120 bags were collected.

“This is but one week of food,” Ms. Cabot told the children as they carried the heavy bags and put them in a pickup truck between rain showers.

Food pantry director Armen Hanjian said later that the groceries received from the Hebrew Center are a major contribution and represent what might be distributed on a single busy day in the winter months.

The food pantry officially opens on Oct. 18. It is located at the United Methodist Church of Martha’s Vineyard/Christ Mission Life Center (the Stone Church) on Church street in Vineyard Haven. The pantry will be open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 2 to 4 p.m., through the winter until mid-April. For more information call 508-693-4764.

— Mark Alan Lovewell