The nation's letter carriers will hold their annual charity food collection on Saturday. The drive is in its 16th year, and the postal union is aiming to top last year's collection of 70.7-million pounds of food.

The food will be collected along the routes of Members of the National Association of Letter Carriers, and transferred to local food banks and pantries in the communities where it is collected.

"With rising prices for gasoline and food, an unbearable squeeze has been placed on family budgets, forcing many Americans to seek help for the first time from community food banks and pantries to get adequate nutrition," said NALC President William H. Young.

Carriers ask that those wishing to donate should place food items such as canned meat and fish, soup, cereals, pasta and rice near their mailboxes.

Donors should refrain from donating anything that is expired or anything in glass containers.