Food donations were down again for the National Association of Letter Carriers’ annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, which took place Saturday.

Jim Herrmann, food drive coordinator, said 46,468 pounds of food was collected at the NALC Branch 775, which includes Niles, Buchanan, Dowagiac, Berrien Springs, New Buffalo and Three Oaks.

Last year’s total was just more than 48,000 pounds.

“Sometimes it fluctuates from year to year,” Herrmann said. “One year you many be up and the next you may be down. There really is no concrete reason I’ve been able to see for it.”

Niles’ haul was 22,846 pounds, down nearly 2,000 pounds from a year ago. The food was distributed to the Niles Salvation Army, St. Mary’s Christian Service Center and First Presbyterian Church in Niles.

Buchanan collected 6,113 pounds of food, which was given to the Redbud Area Ministries pantry.

Other totals include:

• 8,300 pounds collected in Dowagiac

• 4,675 pounds collected in Berrien Springs

• 1,705 pounds collected in Three Oaks

• 2,600 pounds collected in New Buffalo

Herrmann thanked the many volunteers from area food banks who helped with the distribution of food after the drive.

“We look forward to improving on it next year and getting the word out to even more people,” he said.

The Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive is held on the second Saturday in May when letter carriers from more than 10,000 cities and towns across the country collect non-perishable food items left at mail boxes by postal customers. It is the largest one-day food drive in the nation.