On the second Saturday in May, mail carriers picked up more than just bill payments and letters in Nicholasville. About 2,300 pounds more. 

This year was the 25th anniversary of the National Association of Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive which occurred on Saturday, May 13. 

For this national day of donation, mail carriers pick up non-perishable food items such as canned foods, along with their normal packages on their route. 

This is the second year that Walking With Love Food Pantry in Nicholasville has been a recipient of some of the donations. 

The 2,300 pounds of food that was collected will be split between the food pantry and the Salvation Army.

Executive Director of Walking With Love Food Pantry and the Jessamine County Homeless Coalition Johnny Templin said the amount of non-perishable food collected from Stamping Out Hunger will provide for the shelter for about two-and-a-half months. 

“It’s an incredible blessing for us,” Templin said. 

He said due to the long expiration date of canned food items, they can be hard to come by, because often organizations such as God’s Pantry do not provide them. He said most of the canned food items at the shelter are generated through local donations and drives like Stamp Out Hunger. 

“The community really stepped up in a huge way,” Templin said.