The local branch of the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) announces their annual food drive on Saturday, May 9. This is the 16th year local branch 717 has conducted their food drive. It is the largest one-day food drive locally and is held in conjunction with a nationwide food drive coordinated by the national union and local branches.

Here in Austin and Mower County, they collected more than 9,000 pounds of food for local food shelves last year. It was a decrease from the 2007 record of 11,250 pounds, but still was the highest total ever. Their goal this year is to reach 10,000 pounds. In the current economy, it may be a tough goal to achieve, but the need is greater than ever.

All citizens need to do is place their donations of non-perishable food near their mailbox May 9. This year, they will have help from the Austin High School National Honor Society and Austin Jaycees. It is their hope people will place donations out by 9 a.m. to ensure they don’t miss their letter carrier. If you will be out of town, leave your donation out from Wednesday on or the following Monday and it will be picked up.

Post offices in Dexter, Rose Creek and Racine have joined this year’s drive.

Post cards reminding citizens of the drive will be delivered May 7 or 8. The drive will be held rain or shine.

Checks can also be written to the Salvation Army and can be dropped off at the post office, handed to the carrier or taken to the Salvation Army food shelf.

Letter carriers in more than 10,000 cities from coast-to-coast have signed up to collect food on May 9, making it the largest one-day food drive in the nation. Last year, 73.1 million pounds of food was collected for local food banks, pantries and shelters, bringing the total food collected over the national drive’s 16-year history to nearly one billion pounds.