Postal workers will be collecting more than the mail this weekend as they participate in the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) 16th annual “Stamp out Hunger Food Drive.” On the day before Mother’s Day this year, letter carriers will focus their efforts on restocking the community food banks, pantries and shelters that millions of American families will rely on throughout the summer.

The challenge this year is especially daunting. All signs point to a deepening recession, and with gasoline prices flirting with a $4 a gallon, more and more families – including those of carriers - are looking everywhere for ways to save money. This economic squeeze comes while 35 million Americans are experiencing what the federal government refers to as “a very low food security,” a euphemistic way of saying people are either already going hungry or are worried about where their next meal will come from.

That is why letter carriers hope that this Saturday, May 10th, you’ll look through your cupboards to see if you have canned goods or boxed foods you can spare. Local representatives of the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) will be collecting non-perishable food items from residential customers on their postal routes.

All you need to do is place the items next to your mailbox before your letter carrier delivers the mail. The carrier will do the rest. Contributions will be returned to the post office, where they will be sorted, weighted and re-distributed to area food pantries and other non-profit agencies that can use them.

Items can also be dropped off at the Post Office on Barks Road between 8:30 am and 5:00 pm that day.

Last year, local letter carriers collected more than 56,000 pounds of food in Marion County alone. You can help them do even more this year by putting some canned soup, juice, pasta, cereal, rice or other non-perishable items in this Saturday’s mail.

The United Way of Marion County is proud to once again provide coordination and promotion in the “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive in the Marion community.