NATCHEZ — The United States Postal Service in Natchez is on a mission, and it’s not just to deliver your mail.

This weekend, post office employees and community volunteers will do their part to tackle the issue of hunger in Adams County.

For nearly a decade, the post office has hosted an annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive, and postmaster Kevin Vicknair said they have spent the week preparing to host it again on Saturday.

“We are giving every customer a brown paper bag and a card explaining what we are doing,” Vicknair said. “We have different shelters, youth group homes and the Stewpot we give the food to.”

Vicknair said last year’s drive yielded approximately 40,000 pounds of non-perishable goods, and the postal employees are hoping to collect 50,000 this year.

Residents can load up their brown paper bags with nonperishable food items and leave it at their mailbox Saturday to be picked up when the mail comes or drop it off at the post office.

Vicknair said the post office would also be accepting help from volunteers to unload trucks weighed down by donations.

Stewpot board member Jacqueline Marsaw said she plans to help out, and is proud of the volunteers who come out to help. She is expecting boy scouts as well as Natchez High School’s baseball, football and track teams.

“We are hoping that we are teaching our young men how to do community work,” Marsaw said. “It’s bringing a positive light to our young men and helping people who are hungry.”

As a member of the Stewpot board, Marsaw was also excited for what this drive will do to help out the organization.

“We have more than 400 meals go out of the Stewpot every day, and we are open seven days a week,” Marsaw said. “It starts to cost a lot to run the place, but when people donate, it helps.”