Leave non-perishable food gifts by your mailbox Saturday.

Your letter carriers, as they deliver your mail, will collect these items to be divided among organizations in Natchez serving those in need.

On this once-a-year day, your letter carrier will be doing the double duty of delivering your daily mail and picking up your food donations.

This will be the 19th nationwide drive of the Stamp-Out Hunger program spearheaded by the National Association of Letter Carriers.

About 1,500 local branches will be participating.

This is one of many community service efforts for which they have received many prestigious awards.

Previous drives in Natchez resulted in the collection of millions of pounds of food. Your letter carriers pride themselves in how much food each collects because of your support. Take this opportunity to thank them for their daily service to you by giving to this cause, which is dear to their hearts.

All food collected will be used locally — i.e. in Natchez.

Organizations benefiting are: Stewpot, Sunshine Shelter, First Pentecostal Church Food Bank, 61 South Church of Christ Food Bank and perhaps others.

Previous drives have been successful that they have been a major help to their mission. All of these organizations need this food. All thank the letter carriers for you; especially thankful are those who will ultimately receive this food.

Remember Stamp-Out Hunger is Saturday. Leave non-perishable food items at your mailbox for pick-up by your letter carrier.

Every item you give adds to the total collected making your mail “person” proud, keeping charity organizations in business and feeding the needy.

Louis Gunning is the director of the Natchez Community Stewpot.