The National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) will conduct its 21st annual food drive to combat hunger on Saturday, May 11. Letter carriers will collect nonperishable food donations on that day as they deliver mail along their postal routes.

It is the nation’s largest single-day food drive, and is held annually on the second Saturday in May in 10,000 cities and towns in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Guam.

Last year, letter carriers collected 70.7 million pounds of food donations along their postal routes, bringing the total to 1.2 billion pounds for the NALC’s food drive, which began in 1992.

“We’re honored to be able to help people in need by leading an effort that brings out the best in so many Americans,” NALC President Fredric Rolando said. “Six days a week, letter carriers see firsthand the needs in the communities where we work, and we’re committed to helping meet those needs.”

The Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive has never been more important than in these times, with hunger a growing problem affecting about 50 million people around the country, including 17 million children and nine million senior citizens. According to Second Harvest of Middle Tennessee, 16.4 percent of those served in Middle Tennessee are food insecure.

Pantry shelves filled up through winter holiday generosity often are bare by late spring. With most school meal programs suspended during summer months, millions of children must find alternate sources of nutrition.

“The timing of the food drive is important, and that’s why we selected the second Saturday in May,” said Pam Donato, who coordinates the NALC’s Stamp Out Hunger effort.

On Saturday, May 11, the nation’s 175,000 letter carriers will collect the donations residents leave near their mail boxes, as they deliver mail. People are encouraged to leave a sturdy bag containing nonperishable foods, such as canned soup, canned vegetables, canned meats and fish, pasta, rice or cereal next to their mailbox before the regular mail delivery on Saturday.

Carriers will bring the food to local food banks, pantries or shelters.