It’s not the only, or even the biggest, charitable effort going on in Lawrence right now, but it deserves a little applause.

Wednesday night five downtown businesses — Hobbs, Spectator’s, The Bayleaf, Silver Works and More and The Dusty Bookshelf — offered special discounts to people who brought in canned food to be donated to local food pantries. Hopefully, their effort was a big success and collected lots of food to help fill shelves that too often have been empty recently.

The national chain stores that have located in Lawrence in recent years broaden our retail selections and our tax base, but it’s worth noting, that when it comes to giving back to the community, it’s usually the smaller, locally owned businesses that pitch in to help.

Sure, it’s a promotion they hope will get more people to come into their stores during the holiday season, but it also helps to spread the spirit of Christmas beyond shopping for family and friends to reaching out to those who are less fortunate.

Thanks for the effort and the reminder.