Food drive Saturday

Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana will sponsor the 16th annual Letter Carriers Food Drive on Saturday.

Letter Carriers will collect nonperishable food items from Orleans and Jefferson Parish residents as part of the largest one-day food drive in the nation.

Residents are asked to leave a sturdy bag containing non perishable foods such as canned beans and vegetables, pasta, rice or cereal next to your mailbox prior to the time of regular mail delivery on Saturday. Letter carriers will pick up the food and deliver it to Second Harvest Food Bank for distribution to more than 220 member agencies and those in need of food.

Food items may also be delivered to local post offices until May 15 and monetary donations may be made by visiting the Second Harvest Food Bank Web site at www.no-hunger.org

This year, Second Harvest Food Bank will increase food distribution in south Louisiana by 33 percent to 24 million pounds and nearly 19 million meals to help working families, children and seniors cope with the recovery, recession and increased cost of living.