Local food banks are more than 6,800 pounds fuller after the 12^th annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive at the Dowagiac Post Office, 202 Commercial St.

The National Association of Letter Carriers and the National Association of Rural Letter Carriers, both in partnership with the U.S. Postal Service, sponsor the local drive, helping to feed needy families in the Dowagiac area. Last year, the Dowagiac post office collected nearly 7,500 pounds of food items. Though the numbers this year fell slightly, post office supervisor Mary Means said she was pleased with the result.

“I think we did pretty good considering it rained,” Means said. “People usually don’t put out food if it’s raining for fear that it will get too wet.”

Items collected for the drive included canned food, pasta, rice, cereal and non-perishable boxed items. Donors either set out their contributions next to their mailbox for pick-up or dropped off the items at the post office.

Means said that, while the rain hindered the drive slightly this year, the letter carriers continued to bring in donations.

“We had people drop off food beforehand, and some came by to drop off food afterwards, too,” Means said. “We always try to exceed our goal from the previous year, but people contribute what they can.”

The donations collected through the drive went to local food pantries and will be distributed locally to families and individuals in need.