Letter carriers at the Bay Minette post office helped stock up the pantries of the local White Christmas program and the North Baldwin Ecumenical Association last weekend with their annual food drive.

This year’s drive weighed in at 9,043 pounds of non perishable food — exceeding all other years’ collections.

Sponsored by the National Association of Letter Carriers, the food drive is one of the largest in the country.

“We really appreciate the great response by the people of Bay Minette to this food drive,” said Rick Stephens, a senior letter carrier at the Bay Minette post office.

Food is distributed to local organizations that work with families in need or homeless people. The food drive is held at the beginning of summer to help out families with school-age children that during the school year receive assistance through the free lunch programs.