QUINCY -- Quincy letter carriers hope to pick up at least 25,000 pounds of food for local pantries in a single day this weekend.

The annual U.S. Postal Service's Stamp Out Hunger food drive will be Saturday. Residents may participate by leaving nonperishable food items in bags or boxes near their mailboxes. All donated items are dispersed among 10 local food pantries.

"People have a special friendship with their mailman or mailwoman," said George Meyer, who has coordinated the event for the last seven years. "People want to help them out and want to help their community out."

Held each year the second Saturday of May, the food drive coincides with the end of the school year.

"The timing is critical because food banks will see a sharp increase in numbers when school gets out," Meyer said. "That is a huge aspect of it."

Last year's drive brought in 26,500 pounds of food. Letter carriers in Quincy have participated in the food drive for the last 24 years.

"Every year, it seems like we get a couple more pantries, but we also get more donations," Meyer said. "We have a lot of generous people in Quincy, and it shows year after year."

United Way of Adams County Executive Director Emily Robbearts said 12.4 percent of Adams County residents are food insecure and 33 percent of residents whose incomes are above the qualifying range for assistance rely on food pantries.

The Hannibal post office also will be participating.

"For some people, food pantries are the way they feed their family, and this helps them out," said Jerry Morrell, Hannibal Stamp Out Hunger coordinator.

Hannibal saw 12,000 pounds of food donated last year, and Morrell would like to see that number bump up to 14,000 or 15,000 pounds Saturday.

"This is a way to help food banks across the nation, and all the food collected stays local," Morrell said. "This is what we're supposed to do."

Letter carriers in Hannibal have distributed donation bags across the city. Cash is also accepted.

"The Stamp Out Hunger food drive is one of the easiest ways for you to help these individuals in need," Robbearts said. "Placing just one bag of food by your mailbox makes a huge impact."