Many of us are blessed to have never gone a day when we weren’t sure where our next meal would come from. We likely often take for granted what it means to be food secure.

At the same time, it may be difficult for us to sympathize with those who struggle day in and day out to put food on the table for themselves and their loved ones. Those individuals could very well be our neighbors or coworkers. Maybe it is the waitress who serves us our dinner or the cashier who checks out our weekly groceries. Without realizing it, we likely encounter people who are hungry and worried about where they will get the food they need to survive.

Day in and day out, Clark County Community Services battles the issue of hunger in Winchester and Clark County by running a God’s Pantry-affiliated food bank.

Throughout the year the agency partners with various other organizations to fight hunger.

Soon, local mail carriers will take part in an initiative to boost food donations to the local pantry.

Saturday, May 13, will be the 25th annual Stamp Out Hunger, a national event organized by the National Association of Letter Carriers. Locally, the event will collect food for Clark County Community Services.

The event is Community Services’ largest food drive of the year, CCCS Director Debbie Fatkin said. Last year, nearly 6,500 pounds of food were donated. In 2015, Clark County residents gave almost 6,900 pounds.

Donated food should be left at residents’ mail boxes May 13 for the carriers to collect. Items need to be non-perishable, such as canned items, or boxed items that are unopened and unexpired. Items like canned foods, boxes of crackers, boxed cereal, oatmeal and boxed meals like macaroni and cheese are suggested.

This initiative is one that partners the entire entire community to help our neighbors. By simply going through your cupboard or adding a few extra canned goods to your grocery list, you can help local families feel more food-secure.

If each home gave just a little, the donations could go a long way in our community.

We commend Clark County Community Services for the continuous hard work dedicated to helping families in need, and thank the U.S. Post Office and the local carriers for taking the extra time and effort to pitch in for a worthy cause next week.

We encourage our neighbors to do the same by leaving a bag of food at their mailboxes.