It’s time to help area food shelves once again.

Austin and Albert Lea postal carriers will compete once more to see who can collect the most food during the National Association of Letter Carriers and National Rural Letter Carriers Association’s 22nd annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive this Saturday.

“The whole idea is to stimulate just a little more interest,” food drive coordinator Bob Rosel said of the competition. “If it generates more food donations for both communities, as much fun as I have rubbing it in a little bit, it’s just great that it increases food donations.”

The annual mail carrier food drive raises food donations for the Salvation Army of Austin food shelf during a traditionally down time of the year for donations. Residents are encouraged to leave nonperishable food items in bags or boxes near their mailboxes on Saturday. Donations can also be left at the post office or the Salvation Army.

The food drive does span across Mower County, and any food that is collected in Austin stays in Austin. Yet the most important part of the drive is to collect donations for children and seniors who need it, as Rosel told the Austin City Council Monday night.

“There’s not so much starvation as there is food insecurity,” he said. “You’ve got children growing up who have to skip a meal or two each day.”

The Salvation Army is encouraging residents to donate beans, pasta, canned potatoes, vegetables, cereals, whole grains, soup, crackers, flour and sugar.

Rosel said residents could also leave out food any day this week to count toward the contest.

“Every little bit helps,” he said.

As for the contest, Austin last won in 2011. Albert Lea has defeated the city ever since.

Residents are asked to leave out food by 9 a.m. Saturday. Donations will still be taken Monday in case people forget.