Postal workers around the country are not just dropping off your mail. There's a major push to to collect food to help food banks, but tough economic times are having an impact on donations.

Members of the National Association of Letter Carriers are not just bringing by your mail, they're looking for donations. Waynesboro letter carrier, Scott Via, says he's glad people are giving despite the tough economy.

"It's very important during these hard times," says Via. "With the fuel, the rising cost of everything, it's important we can play our part. School's going to be letting out. Kids won't have food."

Post offices have taken part in this push for more than a decade. Becky Bowman, delivery supervisor in Waynesboro, says her location alone collected about 50,000 pounds of food last year.

"I know that some of the carriers are saying that the food drive's down from what they've collected in the past," says Bowman.

Officials with the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank say food drive donations were down about five percent as of March. They've also been having trouble bringing in cash donations. That's why this push is vital to them.

"This is very important," says Ruth Jones, Blue Ridge Area Food Bank. "We get about 140,000 pounds out of this food drive network-wide every year."

The food bank has already distributed 25 percent more food this year than last year.

"There are more people in need," says Jones. "We're seeing new clients, people we haven't seen before. A lot of people who were just making ends meet before the economic downturn are now finding themselves over the edge."

If you'd like to donate, you still can. Officials at the Waynesboro Post Office say they plan to pick up food on Monday and Tuesday and you can bring donations by the branches around the Valley.

They're taking canned goods and boxed goods like cereal and macaroni and cheese, but they will not accept any perishable items.