Niles letter carriers surpassed last year’s numbers in their effort to “Stamp Out Hunger” during the nation’s largest one-day food drive Saturday.

“Our goal is always the previous year (total),” said Lori Hanlin, a carrier for the Niles Post Office. “So we surpassed our goal.

“We’re happy,” she said.

Niles carriers picked up a total of approximately 27,200 pounds of non-perishable food items.

The donations will be distributed between the food pantries at The Salvation Army, St. Mary’s Church and First Presbyterian Church in Niles.

Hines said residents are “always thankful that we do this,” and generous in their giving.”

“The people that always give are the people that don’t have a lot,” Hanlin said.

Local businesses also had a hand in helping out, providing food for the carriers and volunteers who were busy collecting, sorting and loading up the donations.