Photo Provided

Letter carriers across the nation are preparing for the annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive on May 14. The nation's largest single-day food collection event is vital to replenishing local food pantries across the United States. Locally the Foley, Elberta and Summerdale post offices will collect food to donate to the Ecumenical Ministries' food pantry in Baldwin County.

The Stamp Out Hunger food drive is an easy way for people in the community to help local food pantries. A bag is left in the mailbox by a postal carrier and residents can fill the bag with whatever items they purchase or have in the pantry. The filled bag is then left at the mailbox on May 14, and it will be collected.

The national food drive began in 1993 and has collected more than 1.5 billion pounds of food throughout the country. In 2019, Summerdale, Elberta and Foley letter carriers picked up over 3,500 pounds of non-perishable food items that were distributed to individuals and families in the local community.

The collection comes at a time each year when the Ecumenical Ministries' food pantry shelves need restocking prior to the summer months. Help your local food pantry today. Start collecting non-perishable items today, fill a bag and place it by your mailbox Saturday, May 14 for your letter carrier to pick up.