Most people may not know what it feels like to be truly hungry, but for some, it is a daily fear. People all across America, including Statesboro and Bulloch County residents, can do their part to help by participating in the “Stamp Out Hunger” National Association of Letter Carriers food drive Saturday.

Over the past two years, Statesboro and Bulloch County residents donated about 20,000 pounds of nonperishable foods during the annual “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive. Local letter carriers, including Curtis Gay, hope this year will see an even larger number of participants.

“Every second Saturday in May, letter carriers in more than 10,000 cities and towns across

America deliver much more than mail when they walk and drive along their postal routes,” he said. “They also collect the goodness and compassion of their postal customers who participate in … the largest one-day food drive in the nation and probably the world.”

People are asked to leave a box or bag of nonperishable foods – dry pasta, rice, canned fruits, vegetables and meats, peanut butter, cereals, and similar items – beside their mail boxes, he said.

Led by letter carriers represented by the National Association of Letter Carriers as well as rural letter carriers, other postal employees and numerous other volunteers, the drive has resulted in delivery of more than one billion pounds of donations to community food banks and pantries over the past 23 years, he said.

“The last two years, Statesboro’s donations went up from 12,000 pounds to 20,000 pounds. That says a lot about our communities, even in these tough economic times.

Donations may also be left at post offices. The food will be delivered to local community food banks, pantries and shelters.  The food drive is nationwide, he said.

Gay reminds people to leave the food at their mail box before their carrier arrives to deliver mail.  Area donations will be taken to the Statesboro Food Bank where it will be made available for needy families.

“Some 35.5 million people face hunger every day in America, including 13 million children,” he said. ”This drive is one way people can help those right in their own city or town who need help.”