FOOD DRIVE SATURDAY

On Saturday, Cape Girardeau letter carriers will be picking up canned goods in addition to letters and packages during the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive.

"We feel it's a good cause that helps the community," said Don Farrow, a letter carrier at the Cape Girardeau Post Office who has helped organize the food drive. Last year, he said, the drive raised about 14,000 pounds of food.

The collected food will be donated to FISH, a not-for-profit, volunteer-run agency that runs a food pantry in Cape Girardeau, Farrow said.

Gil Degenhardt, a FISH volunteer, said the annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive is a significant one for his organization.

"We use it to get us through the summer until the fall food drives begin," Degenhardt said.

Flyers went out Wednesday and Thursday, alerting postal customers about the drive, which is asking for non-perishable food items like canned soup, peanut butter, canned meat or tuna, boxed macaroni and cheese dinners, canned fruit or juice, dry pasta, cereal and canned chili, kidney and pinto beans.

Cape Girardeau's Post Office is participating in the drive by the National Association of Letter Carriers, but not all post office are taking part. The Jackson Post Office is planning a drive later in the year and the Scott City Post Office is not participating this year.