The men and women of who work for the U.S. Postal Service in Cleveland are preparing to make a very special delivery, and they won't be upset if it takes more rounds and more time to make it happen.

The event is the National Association of Letter Carriers' annual "Stamp Out Hunger" Food Drive, and it’s the silver anniversary for the country’s largest single-day food drive, which occurs in more than 10,000 cities and towns across America.

The drive has delivered more than 1 billion pounds of food in the past 24 years.

“At least six days a week, letter carriers see first-hand the needs of the communities they work in,” NALC President Fredric Rolando said, “and we’re privileged to be able to help those in need while leading an effort that brings out the best in so many Americans.”

“We do this on the second Saturday of May each year,” said local letter carrier Mike Williams.

He has led the local drive before, and has returned to lead the effort again this year.

“We are trying to get more food this year than we have gotten in the past years because the giving has been really down,” he said. “I am asking people to give a whole lot this year. Let’s dig in a little bit, and get boxes of food for the carriers to pick up, instead of a can of two here and there.”

Williams said the local letter carriers are working with 17 local entities – such as The Caring Place, Second Harvest and area churches – which will aid in making sure the food gets to those most in need.

“All food will remain local. All food is given away and never sold,” he added.

Williams said on Saturday, May 12, people can set their food donations beside their mailboxes.

“We ask that you put as much out there as you can,” he added. “It must be non-perishable and there can be no breakable containers. Other than that, you can put as much as you want to and can out there.”

Those with post office boxes can bring their donations to a special receptacle which will be placed at the Cleveland Post Office one week before the day of the drive.

And just as it is for any other day for the letter carriers, they will be expecting to pick up food donations, and “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.”

Williams asked for anyone who would like to volunteer with food distribution and sorting, or in any other capacity, to call him at 423-284-7815.