Centralia, Chehalis Mail Carriers to Hold Food Drive on Saturday; Other Areas Also Participating

May 12—On Saturday, May 13, the National Association of Letter Carriers will hold its 31st annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. Branch 1266 of the association is running the drive in Chehalis and Centralia. On Saturday, residents will be able to leave food in or near their mailboxes.

Letter carriers will then take the food to local food banks.

"We believe that the timing of our food drive is important, with food banks, pantries and shelters all starting to run low on donations from the winter holidays and the summer approaching, when most school meal programs are suspended," read a statement from the association.

According to Matthew Phillips, a member of the association who is in charge of the food drive for Chehalis and Centralia this year, all the donated food will stay within the community. Phillips told The Chronicle food collected in Centralia will be taken to God's Portion on F Street while food collected in Chehalis will be taken to the Lewis County Food Bank Coalition.

Phillips said surrounding communities will be able to participate if their local mail carriers are collecting food. He recommended customers call their local post office to make sure they were taking part in the food drive.

"People can hand food to carriers or leave food in their mailbox or by their mailbox and, as a carrier goes about their day, they'll pick up food as they go," Phillips said.

The mail carriers will only be collecting food on Saturday. Phillips said non-perishable, canned goods are desired and the association prefers people not donate anything in a glass container.

The Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive is a nationwide event and is the largest one-day food drive in the country, Phillips said.

"Together we can help stamp out hunger in America," the association stated.