Saturday, May 10, marks the 22nd anniversary of the National Association of Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. Letter carriers walk through communities every day, often coming face-to-face with the sad reality that hunger exists for too many.

So, each year on the second Saturday in May, letter carriers across the country collect non-perishable food donations from their customers. The food collected in Lewiston-Auburn goes directly to the Good Shepherd Food Bank in Auburn to provide food to people in the area who need help.

Our food drive’s timing is crucial. Food banks and pantries often receive the majority of their donations during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday seasons. By springtime, many pantries are depleted, entering the summer low on supplies at a time when many school breakfast and lunch programs are not available to children in need.

Participating in this year’s Letter Carrier Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive is simple. Just leave a non-perishable food donation in a bag by your mailbox this Saturday and your letter carrier will do the rest.

We hope people join in America’s great day of giving and help us in our fight to end hunger.

Anne Huston, Lisbon Falls, food drive coordinator, National Association of Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive