We've all felt the pain from rising food prices. But for some it can mean they just can't eat.

That's where food banks come into play, so postal carriers nationwide -- and in Augusta -- worked to "stamp out hunger."

"We like it when the trucks come in, that's when we really start to get our juices flowing and muscles moving," said Parris Sparks as she helped to unload food -- picked up by mail carriers as part of a nationwide fooddrive.

In our area -- it's the Golden Harvest Food Bank's second biggest drive -- and this year director Mike Firmin says it couldn't be more important.

"I can't remember in the 26 years Golden Harvest has existed when we've needed food more," Firmin said.

He says the slowing economy -- and rising cost of food and fuel -- has boosted the number of those hungry.

"We've seen 9-thousand family visits more in the first half of this year than last year," he said.

In the same period, Firmin says the food bank's costs have risen by half. But he says they're making do.

"Our people here in the Augusta area have been very generous," Firmin said.

He points to an increase in donations -- and to volunteers like Sparks.

"It's very rewarding and it just makes it fun and easy to give back," Sparks said.