Letter carriers for the U.S. Postal Service on Saturday collected 77,000 pounds of food in the area for the annual National Association of Letter Carriers’ National Food Drive.

Carriers in Bowling Green collected 58,000 pounds; in Glasgow, 7,400 pounds; in Morgantown, 2,500 pounds; in Cave City, 1,000 pounds; in Franklin, 5,300 pounds; and in Scottsville, 3,500 pounds.

For the 15th year, city and rural carriers picked up food items while they delivered mail to postal customers on their routes. The items go to local food banks.

&#8220Our communities should be commended for their involvement. Organizations received truckloads of food to re-stock their food pantries,” said Ron Henry, local food drive coordinator. &#8220We received a tremendous response. The food drive is deliberately planned to coincide with the time of year when the shelves of food pantries are at their barest. These donations should help the food pantries through the summer months, when school is out and typical donations are lower.”

Co-sponsors of the drive included the National Association of Letter Carriers, Local No. 468, United Way of Southern Kentucky, the U.S. Postal Service and the AFL-CIO.