VERONA, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank is encouraging people to participate in the annual Stamp Out Hunger (SOH) food drive on Saturday, May 11, by donating food and volunteering at local collection sites.

Hosted by the National Association of Letter Carriers, SOH is the nation’s largest one-day food collection effort. Last year, SOH collected 115,019 pounds of food for the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, enabling it to provide more than 115,859 meals to neighbors living with food insecurity.

Those wishing to give can leave non-perishable food items at their mailbox (early) for their postal carrier to pick up on Saturday, May 11. The most-needed food donations include canned fruits, meats, and vegetables low in sodium and sugar. Giving paper products, diapers, and personal care items is also encouraged. People are asked to avoid glass containers or items that require refrigeration.

“This year’s Stamp Out Hunger event comes at a critical time. The Food Bank is seeing a surge in the need for food assistance across our 25-county service area. We’ll use this donated food to replenish our shelves for the coming summer months when school-based nutrition resources won’t be available,” said Michael McKee, CEO of the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank. “We can’t thank the letter carriers enough for bringing together the community to help provide food for thousands of meals.”

The Food Bank is also seeking volunteers to help collect and sort donations at post offices in Harrisonburg, Lynchburg, Staunton, Waynesboro, and Charlottesville. Volunteer shifts will run between 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., depending on the location.

A full list of needed food items and volunteer opportunities can be found at brafb.org/ event/stamp-out-hunger.