Residents can help abate hunger among neighbors in San Antonio, Bexar County and surrounding counties by leaving non-perishable food items and canned goods by their mailbox on Saturday for the National Association of Letter Carriers Food Drive.

The one-day, nationwide food drive benefits the San Antonio Food Bank, a United Way agency that distributes food boxes to more than 40,000 families every month.

William H. Young, president of the National Association of Letter Carriers (AFL-CIO), said donations are especially needed to restock the San Antonio Food Bank during the high-volume summer months. When children are home – and not receiving their primary meals of the day at school – many parents of limited incomes often find it difficult to provide them with three substantial meals a day.

“Letter carriers see these families every day as they deliver the mail,” Young said. “This food drive is one way we can help alleviate their plight, and we encourage our postal patrons to participate by leaving donations by their mailbox on May 12. The Letter Carriers Food Drive is an easy, convenient way to help someone in the community without even leaving home.”

The public is reminded to place food outside mailboxes, not leave food in glass jars and not donate food beyond its expiration date.

The sponsors of the food drive, the National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 421, U.S. Postal Service, San Antonio AFL-CIO, San Antonio Food Bank and United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County, hope to collect one million pounds of food for the community.