The annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive collected more than 17,000 pounds of canned and non-perishable foods Saturday.

Letter carriers picked up 17,743 pounds of food community wide, said Elizabeth Keever, chief resource and marketing officer for Lawrence food bank Just Food. She added that monetary donations still are coming in and haven’t yet been added to the total.

“We’re pleased about making this year a success,” Keever said.

Last year, Just Food and the Lawrence chapter of the National Association of Letter Carriers collected 25,000 pounds of food. Keever said the food bank hopes the final total this year will surpass last year’s.

The food collected in the drive helps Just Food and its partners prepare for the summer months, when more families need food assistance, Keever said.

Food or monetary donations still can be brought to Just Food, 1000 E 11th St.