The National Association of Letter Carriers will conduct its 21st annual Stamp Out Hunger across America food drive on Saturday, May 11.

Flathead Valley residents are encouraged to leave a sturdy bag containing non-perishable food items, such as canned soup, canned vegetables, peanut butter, pasta, rice or cereal, next to their mailbox prior to the time of regular mail delivery on May 11.

Local letter carriers and volunteers will collect these food donations as they deliver the mail and take them to local food banks.

The annual effort, held in partnership with Campbell Soup Co., is the nation’s largest single-day food drive. Campbell’s will kick off this year’s drive with a pledge to donate one million pounds of food to Feeding America food banks.

In past years, drive organizers across the country have collected more than 70 million pounds of food donations.

Food banks across the country continue to experience record demand for emergency food assistance. The need exists for millions of American families. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, more than 50 million Americans, including nearly 17 million children, are struggling with hunger.

For more information about the Stamp Out Hunger food drive, ask your letter carrier, contact your local post office or visit www.helpstampouthunger.com.