The Rhode Island Community Food Bank recently received more than 117,000 pounds of food after letter carriers and local residents joined together to “Stamp Out Hunger.”

Part of a national campaign, residents placed nonperishable food donations near their mailboxes on a recent Saturday. Letter carriers collected the donations, which were passed on to the food bank.

“This food drive comes at a critical time because it helps fill the shelves of the food bank before school gets out,” says Andrew Schiff, CEO of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. “During the summer, many families really struggle without the benefit of school meals. The letter carriers quite literally do all the heavy lifting in this drive, making it easy for every Rhode Island resident to participate. We can’t thank them enough.”

This year, letter carriers collected 11 percent more donations than last year, a three-year high for the annual drive. Rhode Island has participated for the last 18 years.

The Rhode Island Community Food Bank will distribute the donations throughout the state. •