The National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Food Drive is the largest food drive in the nation.

Local food banks will benefit from this drive at a time when the economy of the area makes it more needed. The price of everything has been getting higher and higher, not only in this area, but all over the country.

Letter carriers have been collecting food for the past 10 years and all letter carriers (not just city) will begin delivering bags around May 10.

“Every year we ask that you dig a little deeper for our community and this year is no different,” said Tracey Macks, shop steward in the Atmore Post Office. “With your help, we have raised over a hundred thousand pounds of food for the food bank. Just one can of food in every mailbox will get us through another year, but that doesn’t mean to stop there.”

The letter carriers will pick up the food on Saturday, May 14. Food may also be brought in and left at the Post Office.

According to Joseph Breckenridge, USPS Communications, non-perishable food items like canned meats and fish, soup, and beans are suggested as well as peanut butter, juice, pasta, canned vegetables, cereal and rice. Food drive organizers ask that glass containers and items beyond their expiration dates not be included in donations.

“The 18 previous USPS Employee Food Drives collected more than one billion pounds of food,” Breckenridge said. “The food drive in 2010 collected a record 77.1 million pounds.”

“Here in Atmore, the donations stay local,” Macks said. “The economy has made the need greater than ever. Everyone feels the pinch with prices high, but not all of us feel the pain of hunger.

“Thanks to all of Atmore for making all of our food drives a success,” she added. “I am sure that this year will be no different because Atmore is such a generous loving town.”