Mother's Day cards won't be the only things weighing down the bags of mail carriers this weekend.

The 20th annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive is Saturday.

More than 61 thousand pounds of food were donated last year in Alachua County.

Donated food helps stock and replenish local food banks. In Alachua County, those include Bread of the Mighty, Catholic Charities, Gainesville Community Ministries, Gainesville Harvest and the Salvation Army.

With 30 percent of seniors and 30 percent of families with small children regularly going without food in North Central Florida, organizers say hunger is a persisten problem in the community.

Residents can leave a bag containing non-perishable food items next to their mailbox before their  regular mail delivery time on Saturday.

Organizers encourage canned goods like tuna, vegetables, or soup and boxed goods like cereal, pasta or casserole dishes. Peanut butter also makes great donations. 

They advise people not to donate sweets and snack foods. Because the food may sit outside in the sun, organizers also warn against anything -- like chocolate -- that can melt.