COEUR d’ALENE — Letter carriers walk through their communities each day, often seeing firsthand the struggles their neighbors face, including hunger.

That’s the reason for the National Association of Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive.

Each year, on the second Saturday in May, letter carriers across the country collect nonperishable food donations from their customers. Donations go directly to local food pantries.

“Our food drive’s timing is crucial,” said Matthew Parkin, president of the Idaho chapter of the National Association of Letter Carriers.

Food banks and pantries receive most donations during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons. By spring, many food banks are depleted, entering summer low on supplies while many school breakfast and lunch programs aren’t available to children in need.

Helping out is simple. Residents can leave nonperishable food donations in a bag by their mailbox Saturday, May 18, and letter carriers will do the rest.

Through the national food drive, letter carriers and the U.S. Postal Service have collected more than 1.8 billion pounds of food over the last three decades.

“Please help us in our fight to end hunger, as we celebrate our 31st anniversary year in America’s great day of giving,” Parkin said.