"People can leave donations at the post office all week."
Any day is a good day to Stamp Out Hunger.
Though this annual food drive is associated with mail carriers picking up donations at the mailbox, McPherson's post office will accept donations all week in support of the McPherson County Food Bank.
"We wanted to connect with people during May Day, so people could drop off donations on the way," said Joyce Tolle, local coordinator for Stamp Out Hunger. "People can leave donations at the post office all week."
Stamp Out Hunger is a nation-wide push from the National Association of Letter Carriers to support local food banks. The event is celebrating its 25th year, and has been in McPherson for at least 20. Stamp Out Hunger brought in 9,000 pounds of food in McPherson last year.
Participants typically leave donations by their mailbox on a designated day — in this case, Saturday — and mail carriers and United Way volunteers will collect them for delivery to the food bank. This year, carriers who serve McPherson, Galva and Lindsborg will collect donations Saturday morning.
Food items should be non-perishable and not out-of-date. All containers should be sealed, and glass containers should be avoided.
"People don't have to worry about allergies, since the food bank can give those foods to people who aren't allergic," Tolle said.
Tolle said the timing is especially helpful for children who rely on school lunches.
"Kids are about to get out of school, so some of them might not have access to a good lunch, even at home," Tolle said. "This is usually done in the summer to help those families out."
It's an important push; Tolle said when she volunteered with the food bank, she saw empty shelves on more than one occasion.
"After drives like this, it's good to see them full," she said. "McPherson is a giving town. I'm grateful to the residents who give."