Local residents in Atmore and the surrounding area collected almost 9,000 pounds of non-perishable food items last Saturday.

Patricia Reynolds, a letter carrier with the National Association of Letter Carriers 469 branch, said that the drive was a big success.

“People were very generous this year,” Reynolds said. “We surpassed what we raised last year and the good thing is, the food will all stay here in Atmore to be given to our local people in need. We raised 8,973 pounds of food to be used locally. People really opened their hearts to the need and gave. We really appreciate it.”

The Atmore Area Christian Care Ministry received the food that was collected. According to Mike McMorris with the ministry, they will sort the food and then distribute it.

“We will distribute it to anyone who has an emergency need for it,” McMorris said. “We have been in existence for 10 years and are completely volunteer led and staffed by local citizens. We see about 55 families per month and people in the community are free to come to us and fill out a form and provide proof of who they are and that they live in the local area to receive it. We can also counsel with clients that come to us and try to connect them to other resources.

“This food collected will supplement what we give away all year around,” he added. “Donations do not fulfill all the need, but it helps tremendously. We purchase additional food locally and through a partnership with the Bay Area Food Bank.”