Plastic bags started showing up in local mailboxes this week. The U.S. Postal Service hopes that the bags are returned to sender with nonperishable food as part of the National Association of Letter Carriers areawide food drive.

The donated items can be left by the mailbox or taken to the post office Saturday. The food will be donated to local food pantries.

In Bismarck, the items will go to Ruth Meiers Hospitality House, Youthworks, Salvation Army, Welcome House, Bismarck Emergency Food Pantry, AID Inc., Child's Hope Learning Center, Dacotah Foundation, Abused Adult Resource Center, Community Action Program and Charles Hall Youth Services.