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Southwest Floridians come through again.

We always respond when the chips are down for our neighbors, and Saturday’s Stamp Out Hunger food drive finale is no exception.

The event, which encouraged postal customers to take nonperishable food to their post offices or mailboxes for pick up and delivery, realized 200,000 pounds in Collier — on par with last year. The haul in Bonita Springs was 22,000 pounds, helping Lee County toward a total of 365,000 pounds — also on pace with last year.

Stamp Out Hunger organizers had been sweating this year’s event, fearing it would get caught between higher demand — witness the rise in applications for food stamps — due to the economy and lesser ability to donate, again due to the economy.

The public’s outpouring of generosity on the final day told the tale.

The bounty helped prove the need for Stamp Out Hunger to take the next step — securing permanent warehouse space for the tons and tons of food that will keep established charities and their clients going for months.

Everything about this annual drive is beautiful, from the simplicity of using a collection/delivery system already in place, to the results.

To all who pitched in, a big tip of the letter carriers’ cap.