During this annual event, more than 10,000 communi-ties across the nation will participate by leaving bags of food items beside their mailboxes for carriers to pick up and distribute to local food banks. People are asked to leave bags of nonperishable food such as canned goods or packaged food.

This year, the United Way of York County will partner with the Postal Service in this effort. United Way volunteers have played a big role in promoting the food drive.

Food donations are particularly crucial during the upcoming summer months when children who usually receive free or reduced meals at school will be at home. The goal of the Postal Food Drive is to collect enough food in one day to replenish local banks for up to four months.

Local donations were down last year. We hope that residents will reverse that trend this year and make sure they leave food for their carriers on Saturday.

Donations from Fort Mill and Tega Cay residents will go to Fort Mill Care Center. Donations from Rock Hill residents will go to the Salvation Army, Pilgrims' Inn, Hope House and Dorothy Day Soup Kitchen. Donations from York will go to PATH. And donations from Clover and Lake Wylie will go to the Clover Area Assistance Center.