SALISBURY — Residents are asked to help collect food for the 24th annual Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive on Saturday.  The food drive, sponsored by the National Association of Letter Carriers, is the world’s largest one-day food drive, taking place in more than 10,000 cities and towns in all 50 states, U.S. territories and the District of Columbia.

Before their regular mail pick-up on Saturday, postal customers are asked to leave bags of non-perishable food items by their mailboxes. Letter carriers will pick up the bags, along with other postal employees and countless volunteers. Donations will be delivered to local food pantries.

Hunger affects about 50 million people around the country, including millions of children, senior citizens and veterans. Pantry shelves filled up through winter-holiday generosity but are often bare by late spring.

In its 23 years, the Stamp Out Hunger food drive has collected more than 1.4 billion pounds of food. Last year’s drive collected approximately 71 million pounds.

“Food drive postcard reminders and bags have been mailed. We are working with our local food banks and we’ve got our volunteers ready for a full afternoon of work. And even if the weather doesn’t cooperate, we are confident that Rowan County citizens will step up and give what they can, no matter what,” said local chairman Dennis Sims.

“Participation in the drive couldn’t be easier,” Sims said. “All we ask is that postal customers place a bag of non-perishable food by their mailbox before their letter carrier comes by on Saturday.”

Local postal carriers will pick it up the food items and it will be distributed locally to Main Street Mission in China Grove, Rowan Helping Ministries and the Salvation Army.

This year’s local goal will be 30,000 pounds. Last year, 24,000 pounds was collected. Local committee members feel the increase can be achieved with everyone’s help.

Committee members include chairman Dennis Sims, postmaster Jamie Reynolds, National Association of Letter Carriers representative Kim Lane, Nate Valentine of Rowan Helping Ministries, Anne Corriher of Main Street Mission, captains NaKisha and Bobby Carr of the Salvation Army and Jackie Harris of Rowan County United Way.

The drive is a nationwide event sponsored by the National Association of Letter Carriers, United Way, Campbell Soup and others.

To learn more about the Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, visit nalc.org/food and follow the drive on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Use the hashtag #StampOutHunger on social media.