Residents are being asked to place non-perishable food at their mail boxes May 12 for postal workers to pick up and take to local hunger programs like CHOW.

The Stamp Out Hunger food drive comes at a time that many pantries and other programs are running low on supplies while demand increases as schools dismiss for the summer, eliminating free breakfast and lunch programs.

Many postal customers have been finding colorful plastic bags in their mailboxes featuring the characters from the cartoon strip: Family Circus, encouraging donations to the Food Bank of the Southern Tier and the Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse.

Food should be in non-glass containers and can be left right at the mail box for collection as postal workers make their rounds.

Most needed items are canned fruits and vegetables, peanut butter, canned tuna and chicken, dry pastas, boxed macaroni and cheese, cereals, canned soup and baby formula.

The Food Bank of the Southern Tier says in the six counties it serves, including Broome, more than 72,500 people are considered food insecure or at risk of experiencing hunger.

 

More From KISS 104.1