Special to the North San Antonio Times

On May 10, letter carriers across the country will be doing more than just delivering mail. That day marks the 16th annual Letter Carriers Food Drive, the nation’s largest single-day food drive. Letter carriers will pick up food donations left by the mail boxes of millions of people across the country and deliver them to the local food bank.

Locally, the San Antonio Food Bank works with the National Association of Letter Carriers Branch #421 and the United States Postal Service to coordinate the food drive.

Grocery bags sponsored by The USAA Foundation and H-E-B will be delivered to every household week to encourage individuals to participate in the Food Drive. On that May 10 letter carriers will pick up the food donations and deliver them that same day to the Food Bank on the corner of Old Highway 90 and Highway 151 on the city’s West Side.

“This food drive is critical. During the summer, we see an increase in the need for emergency food assistance since children are out of school and no longer receiving that free or reduced-rate lunch at school,” said Eric S. Cooper, executive director of the San Antonio Food Bank. “We ask the community to join the letter carriers, leave a donation by your mailbox, and help ‘Stamp Out Hunger.’”

While all non-perishable food items are welcome, the most needed items are peanut butter, cereal, tuna, rice, beans, macaroni and cheese, chili, canned soups and stews, canned meats, full meals in a can or box and “pop-top” food items. For more information, visit www.safoodbank.org.

The San Antonio Food Bank is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization that provides millions of pounds of food to more than 375 charitable organizations in Southwest Texas serving those in need. In addition to food distribution, the San Antonio Food Bank provides numerous programs that not only solve the immediate problems of hunger, but help individuals and families gain long-term food security.