The annual national Letter Carrier’s “Stamp Out Hunger” Food Drive is May 12, and postal customers are reminded to leave bagged food and other non-perishable items at their mail boxes.

The drive is the largest one-day food-collection event in the nation. In Haywood County, nearly 30,000 pounds of food was collected last year and distributed to local residents through the Haywood Christian Ministry, the Salvation Army, the Open Door Ministry and the Community Kitchen.

Items should be in bags or boxes and not put out until the day of the food drive.  Residents who receive their mail at the post office should bring their food items to the lobby of the post office.