Rural mail carriers from the Columbia Post Office (27925) on May 12 will join their peers across the nation in the annual Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive.

The Food Drive takes place in more than 10,000 cities and towns across America. It’s an effort to raise national awareness about the real, ongoing problem of hunger in every community, and it’s a sincere attempt by letter carriers to use a unique delivery network to do something about it.

On Saturday just set out your non-perishable food well before your letter carrier’s normal pick-up time. She will be delivering and collecting mail as usual, on top of collecting food donations, so that pickup time could be slightly later than usual.

What if it’s raining? “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” So, of course your letter carrier will pick up and deliver your mail as usual on Food Drive Day, no matter what the weather may be.

Jill Spencer, Columbia postmaster, said Monday morning that the Food Bank of the Albemarle has promised to supply information cards and food bags, which the carriers will deliver Thursday or Friday.

If the carriers don’t leave you a bag, paper is sturdy and tends to hold more food. Cloth bags or boxes are also fine. Plastic bags tend to hold up better in wet weather. So it’s your choice. And most bags and boxes can be easily recycled. Your letter carrier will gladly take anything you leave out!

All food collected will be given to Church Road Emergency Food Closet for distribution to Tyrrell County residents, Spencer said.

The top requested non-perishable food items are: cereal, pasta, pasta sauce or spaghetti sauce, rice, canned fruits and vegetables, canned meals (such as soups, chili and pasta), 100% juice, peanut butter, macaroni & cheese, canned protein (tuna, chicken and turkey), beans (canned or dry). You also can donate healthy, low-sodium, low-sugar items such as beans, oatmeal and other whole grains, and canola or olive oil.

Please do not donate frozen food, homemade food or home-canned items, items that have expired, or items in glass containers.

Baby food may be donated by the case or pallet, but single item donations present potential contamination risks and special handling requirements.

All donations to the Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger® Food Drive are tax-deductible. Letter carrier participation in the Food Drive is strictly voluntary.