This week, U.S. Postal carriers will be leaving bags on mailboxes through the county for people to donate food to their local food pantries.

The local Postal Union Representative Donald Surratt said this is the largest food drive in the nation. Last year, Mount Airy letter carriers collected 19,142 pounds of food that was donated to Yokefellow Ministries.

Jill Borders with Yokefellow said that amount of food was enough for 224,091 meals.

“We really appreciate the community helping us. The need for food remains great,” said Borders.

She said this is the largest food drive for Yokefellow all year.

While the official day for carriers to pick up non-perishable food items is Saturday, Surratt said food will be picked up any day this week. He said carriers started leaving bags on mailboxes yesterday. Everyone should have a bag by Wednesday.

Surratt explained that all the food stays local. Food collected in Dobson will go to the Foothills Food Pantry, and food collected in Pilot Mountain will go to the Pilot Mountain Outreach Center.

“We greatly appreciate the support of the community,” said Surratt.

Reach Mondee Tilley at mtilley@heartlandpublications.com or at 719-1930.