The National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) and National Rural Letter Carriers Association (NRLCA) will hold their 25th annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive on Saturday, May 12. National Honor Society students and the Chamber Ambassadors are assisting with this year’s drive.

As with previous years, residents of Austin and the surrounding area may leave donations of non-perishable food items in boxes and bags near their mailboxes no later than 9 a.m. on May 12 for a letter carrier or volunteer to pick up.

The United Food and Commercial Workers donated paper bags that will be delivered to Mower County residents this week.

The food will be taken to the food shelf at the Salvation Army in Austin. All food donated in the community will stay in the community. Donations may also be taken to the Salvation Army or the Post Office.

Collections will take place rain or shine.

Last year’s food drive donations exceeded 19,000 pounds. Over 240,000 pounds of food has been donated since the food drive began.

This year, the most needed items are canned beans, canned fruits and vegetables, tomato sauce, crackers, soup, rice, macaroni and cheese, canned/boxed potatoes, dry/evaporated/condensed milk and canned meats.

Residents are especially encouraged to donate due to poor weather resulting in low donations during the Boy Scouts food drive held earlier this year. Austin, as in past years, is again competing against Albert Lea in trying to raise the most. The winner will be the recipient of a travelling trophy, which Albert Lea won last year.

For more information, visit www.nalc .org/food.