The Racine drive is part of the national effort - which organizers said is the largest one-day food drive in the country. It provides the Racine County Food Bank with almost 10 percent of the food needed to supply its affiliates for the entire year.

Food Bank Executive Director Dan Taivalkoski said the total was up about 10 percent from last year.

Before Saturday's drive Taivalkoski was a bit worried about the amount that would come in because the amount of food donated during the Boy Scouts' drive was down. Instead, Racine County residents put out more food this year than last year.

Taivalkoski was pleased with the outcome of the drive, he said. The 77,000 pounds of food filled 118 cardboard boxes, each 40 inches wide by 48 inches deep and about 30 inches tall. He said they rely on donations to keep the food heading out to those who need it.

"There's a lot of peaks and valleys in this business when it comes to donations," he said. "The holidays are really good because no one wants anyone to be hungry for Thanksgiving and Christmas. The faucet goes off in January and stays off until the Boy Scouts drive and the letter carriers' drive."

He said demand for food is still high, and that the Food Bank distributes an average of 65,000 pounds of food a month.

Most of the food was picked up by carriers as they went along their routes. Volunteers also helped bring in food in areas with heavier donations, so carriers didn't have to manage all the mail and all the food.

Jody Spencer, 48, has been a postal carrier for 23 years. She lives near Horlick High School in Racine. Her route covers the Rapids Drive, Golf Avenue and North Green Bay Road areas, and is a combination of businesses and residential neighborhoods.

Spencer, the assistant vice president for the National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 436, said some people put out three or four full bags of food, mostly canned goods. She piled it in the back of her truck, she said, and made three trips to a drop-off station to empty the truck during the route.

It took longer than usual to get through the route, she said, but the extra work is worth it.

"I think it's a great cause," she said. "The thought that this is nationwide, that every city is doing this for their community (makes it) an important event."

Spencer said she donates to the Food Bank through the United Way and volunteers with Thoughts for Food.

"The cause of filling the food banks to me is important," she said. "Nobody wants to see people go hungry. You don't want to see children go hungry, the elderly go hungry or anyone in between."