Rhode Islanders will have a chance to help neighbors in need through the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive on Saturday, May 11, coordinated by the National Association of Letter Carriers.

Simply leave a bag of healthy, non-perishable food items near your mailbox early that morning and your letter carrier will pick up your donation and deliver it to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank where it will be distributed to food pantries throughout the state.

“Our postal customers want to help and they look forward to this food drive every year,” says veteran letter carrier Phil Riggi. “It’s a simple way for them to make a difference.”

“We are so appreciative of the hard work of the letter carriers as well as the generosity of their customers,” said Andrew Schiff, chief executive officer. “Together, they contribute tens of thousands of pounds of food to feed our neighbors in need.”

Most-needed items include canned soups and vegetables, peanut butter, whole wheat pasta, brown rice, canned beans, tuna, and healthy cereals. As always, the food collected will be sorted by volunteers who check for use-by dates and damaged packaging.

This drive is a national effort to address hunger. Across the country, partners supporting Stamp Out Hunger include the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC), United States Postal Service (USPS), National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association (NRLCA), AFL-CIO, UFCW, United Way, Valassis, and Val-Pak.