This Saturday, mail carriers will collect canned goods and nonperishable foods as they deliver mail during the 22nd Annual Stamp Out Hunger National Food Drive - the largest one-day food drive in the nation.

Sponsored by the National Association of Letter Carriers, the drive takes place every second Saturday in May. Letter carriers in more than 10,000 cities and towns across

Led by letter carriers represented by the association along with rural letter carriers, other postal employees and numerous other volunteers, the drive has resulted in delivery of more than 1 billion pounds of donations to community food banks and pantries over the past 22 years, according to information provided by Statesboro letter carrier Curtis Gay.

Over the last two years, Statesboro's donations increased from 12,000 pounds to 20,000 pounds, he said.

"That says a lot about our communities, even in these tough economic times," Gay said.

Nearly 1,500 local association branches in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands are involved in the drive.

The U.S. Postal Service and Campbell Soup Company are major supporters of the drive.

The drive also relies on the backing of the National Rural Letter Carriers Association, the Feeding America food bank network, United Way of America and its local United Ways, AFL-CIO Community Services network, and countless local sponsors.

All citizens need do is to place a box or sack of nonperishable food next to their mailbox before their letter carrier delivers mail on Saturday. The carrier will do all the rest, Gay said.

"The food will be taken to the Statesboro Food Bank, where it will be made available for needy families," he said.

Some 35.5 million people face hunger every day in America, including 13 million children.

"This drive is one way people can help those right in their own city or town who need help," he said.