Mail carriers hope to pick up food donations from homes across the Richmond area when they deliver letters, magazines and other items Saturday, May 12.

Area postal workers are participating in the annual “Stamp Out Hunger” drive run by their union, the National Association of Letter Carriers.

According to the NALC, this is the 26th year that the organization and its members have conducted a food drive. Its members have collected 1.6 billion pounds food from across the country for distribution to needy families since 1993, the NALC stated in announcing the 2018 effort.

During this week, carriers will leave special bags at homes and businesses for donation of nonperishable items in cans or boxes. Customers can leave the bagged items near their mailbox.

The collected food will be delivered to food banks and food pantries, the NALC stated.