The only catch is that it must be done on May 8 before the mail arrives.

That's the date of the 12th annual Help Stamp Out Hunger food drive, when postal carriers across the United States will collect food for Second Harvest food banks and other nonprofits.

"We get a very good response. Last year we collected 125,000 pounds of food," says Tony Cortese, president of Branch 193 of the National Association of Letter Carriers, which includes Los Gatos, Saratoga, San Jose, Campbell, Milpitas, Morgan Hill and Gilroy.

Jennifer Luciano, director of communications at Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties, says, "This is absolutely, undoubtedly the easiest food drive to participate in. You just put it in the mailbox, and letter carriers do the rest."

Last year, Luciano says, letter carriers throughout the two counties collected more than 350,000 pounds of food, which translated into two days' worth of food for the 165,000 people Second Harvest is now seeing each month.

"Most people believe food banks around the area are mostly serving the homeless, but that's not the case. Only 10 percent of the people we serve are homeless. The majority are low-income families with children where they're working two, three and sometimes four jobs to make ends meet," she says.

Both Luciano and Cortese point out that donations rise during the holiday season but drop off toward summer, while the need remains.

The only unwelcome food items are ones in glass, because, Luciano says, as donations are sorted into barrels they might break.

On May 8, after completing their regular delivery routes, carriers return to their stations with the donated food and sort it for pickup by Second Harvest.

Cortese says because May 8 falls on Mother's Day weekend, carriers are happy to pick up food on May 10 and 11 as well.

Luciano adds that cash donations are also welcome and information on donating is available toll-free at 966.234.3663.

"For every $1 donated, we can provide two nutritious meals," she says.