NORTH PORT — In addition to praising the Lord and bonding with others, residents who attend Saturday’s nondenominational “Worship in the Park” event are asked to bring food for the needy.

“The citywide Pastors Network is partnering with the North Port Food Coalition to collect a minimum of 1,000 canned goods to feed a number of struggling and needy families during the Thanksgiving holiday,” said the Rev. Eddie DeJesus, pastor of New Hope Community Church — one of a number of churches planning on attending the event that begins at 5 p.m. Saturday at Dallas White Park. “We want people to load up as many canned goods and nonperishable food items as possible and bring them to the park. We will have receptacles designated to make it easy to donate.”