Postal carriers across Long Island helped the needy Saturday by gathering up food from customers on their routes.

The effort was for the 14th annual National Association of Letter Carriers Food Drive. While letter carriers dropped off letters, they picked up non-perishable goods neighbors left on their doorsteps. The food makes the loads heavier, but letter carriers say they are happy to help in the effort to stamp out hunger on Long Island.

Last year, Long Islanders donated 1.5 million pounds of food, which supplemented more than a million meals for neighbors in need.