Local pantries and homeless missions should see a boost in upcoming weeks thanks to a yearly campaign by the local post office.

The Vicksburg branch of the National Association of Letter Carriers will hold its annual food drive this week through Monday, with mail carriers accepting donations from mailboxes or from in-office visits.

Though there is no goal in mind, Bobby James, postmaster of the local branch, said he hopes to be able to make an impact for local food pantries and shelters.

“We’re just trying to collect as much as we can,” he said. “We do this every year.”

Though he did not have the exact amount, James said they doubled the previous year’s boxes.

“It was outstanding last year,” he said. “We’re hoping to duplicate that success.”

Tommy Atlas, who serves as coordinator for the drive, said the post office and letter carriers are hopeful that, with multiple ways to donate, people will be encouraged to drop off nonperishables.

“Whatever they can give, they can bring it by Wednesday, Thursday, Friday or Saturday or they can leave it in or by their mailbox,” said Atlas.

At least six local agencies will receive donations after the final boxes are received.

On Wednesday, handouts will go out in the mail informing recipients how to donate. James said he hopes that will help boost donations.

“Saturday will be a normal day at the office, but we pick up a lot of food,” he said.

The NALC Food Drive began in 1992 after a study from the U.S. Census Bureau revealed nearly one-in-six Americans are at risk of hunger.

The U.S. Postal Service, National Rural Letters Carrier’s Association, Bob’s Self-Storage Campbell Soup Company, AARP foundation and its Drive to End Hunger campaign, Publix grocery stores, Feeding America, Valpak, the AFL-CIO and the United Way have teamed with the NALC at a national level to sponsor the drive.

In 2013, 74.4 million pounds of food was collected during the nationwide drive.