Leave food by mailbox Saturday, May 14, for annual drive

Mail carrier Mark Rensink wears his food drive hat while delivering the mail to businesses along Squalicum Parkway May 9, 2014, in Bellingham to remind his customers about the annual Letter Carrier Food Drive Saturday. The 2016 drive is May 14. Philip A. Dwyer pdwyer@bhamherald.com

It’s time to pick up a few more items at the grocery store or sort through your kitchen pantry for the annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive.

The drive is perhaps the easiest way for most people to help local food banks. Just leave nonperishible food in bags under or near — but not in — your mailbox before your letter carrier arrives Saturday, May 14. People should not donate food in glass or other breakable containers.

Carriers will pick up the food as they drop off the mail.

The event, in its 24th year, is the largest one-day food drive in the country as well as in Whatcom County. Collected food will be distributed to food banks in Bellingham, Blaine, Everson, Deming, Ferndale and Lynden.

Local food banks feed 2,300 families across Whatcom County each week.

The Bellingham Herald

This story was originally published May 10, 2016 at 2:27 PM with the headline "Leave food by mailbox Saturday, May 14, for annual drive."

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