Postal Service employees across the nation collected food for people in need during the May 14 Stamp Out Hunger drive.
The collection total is still being tallied, but some local numbers are being reported.
Twenty-seven tons were collected in Elkhart, IN, The Elkhart Truth reported, while the High Point, NC, Post Office, was on track to exceed 100,000 pounds.
“It’s been an awesome response,” Beverly Woodburn, the office’s food drive coordinator, told the High Point Enterprise.
USPS and the National Association of Letter Carriers sponsor Stamp Out Hunger, which allows customers to leave bags of nonperishable food items by their mailboxes. Carriers collect the donations, which are distributed to local food banks and pantries.
“Letter carriers are out there every day on every doorstep. … We see our customers struggling,” Wichita, KS, Letter Carrier Cathy Lamb told the local CBS station.
In Ocala, FL, the donations help food banks get through the summer months, when supplies tend to run low.
“I don’t know what we would do without this food drive,” Karla Grimsley, who runs an interfaith pantry, told the Ocala Star Banner.
Said Ocala Letter Carrier Jimmy Ruotolo said: “The community really came together. It was amazing.”
