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Letter carriers across the nation are preparing for the annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive May 13. 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. Residents should then leave the filled bag at the mailbox May 13 and postal carriers will collect it.

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 before the summer months. Help your local food pantry today. Collect non-perishable items and leave them by your mailbox Saturday, May 13 for your postal carrier to pick up.