The 33rd annual “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive returns to the Phoenix area May 10.

The National Association of Letter Carriers began the food drive as a way to help food banks stock their shelves before summer months, when need typically increases and donations tend to decrease. The Valley’s food drive benefits various food banks including United Food Bank and St. Mary’s Food bank.

“Hunger and food insecurity continue to affect thousands of Arizonans, with the numbers rising each year,” said United Food Bank’s CEO Jason Reed in a press release. “We are honored to once again be part of this year’s Stamp Out Hunger food drive. Thank you to the National Association of Letter Carriers, postal workers and entire Arizona community for helping feed our fellow neighbors.”

Residents across the country are asked to place bagged healthy, non-perishable food donations by their mailboxes before 8 a.m. on Saturday, May 10. These will be picked up by their mail carrier and will begin arriving at post offices by 4 p.m.

The Stamp Out Hunger food drive is one of the largest food drives of the year for United Food Bank. Last year, they collected 71,540 pounds. United Food Bank serves over 2.5 million Arizonans annually, with 52,000 meals being distributed daily to those in need living in the East Valley and eastern Arizona.

In addition to food collection, St. Mary’s has set up a donation drive to help raise funds leading up to the event. To make a donation, visit https://fundraise.stmarysfoodbank.org/give/582341/#!/donation/checkout

The National Association of Letter Carriers is the chief organizer of the nation’s largest one-day food drive in the nation. This effort is held annually on the second Saturday in May in 10,000 cities and towns throughout the country. The food drive has collected more than 1.9 billion pounds of food since the drive began in 1992.

For information about this year’s Stamp Out Hunger food drive, visit https://www.nalc.org/community-service/food-drive.