SANDPOINT — The annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive will be stopping at mailboxes throughout Bonner County on Saturday.

The food drive, organized by the National Association of Letter Carriers, invites residents leave a shopping bag of non-perishable food items by their mailboxes so carriers can deliver them to the Bonner Community Food Bank for distribution to local children, senior citizens, veterans and in some cases entire families.

The food drive is strategically timed for May as it’s the time of year food banks nationwide start running low on donations they amassed over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

“It’s a great cause and it’s an easy thing to do,” said Chris Carr, food drive coordinator. “Everything that’s donated stays in the community.”

Carr said the carriers’ annual haul during the food drive fluctuates year after year.

“We could definitely take in the range of 700 pounds,” said Carr.

Local grocers are also stepping into the Stamp Out Hunger campaign by allowing customers to place donations in collection boxes in their stores. Participants in this year’s drive include Safeway, Super 1, Walmart and Winter Ridge Natural Foods. A collection box is also set up at the Sandpoint post office, Carr said.

“It’s been great since the grocery stores got involved,” said Carr.

Carriers are grateful for any donations, although Carr said a variety of food items that can feed families that have children are particularly helpful.

Postal customers should start receiving postcards in the mail reminding them of the Stamp Out Hunger food drive.

NALC said the reality of hunger in the community is disturbing, with one in seven Americans going hungry. The Stamp Out Hunger campaign enables people to be a part of the solution to ending hunger in America.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.