Stamp Out Hunger food drive is Saturday

by Contributed
6 years ago
Place a bag with nonperishable food items in it next to your mailbox this Saturday, May 12, and your postal carrier will pick it up to donate to local food pantries. (Courtesy of National Association of Letter Carriers)

WASHINGTON, D.C. — With the help of sponsors, volunteer organizations and U.S. Postal Service employees in 10,000 communities nationwide, the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) will conduct its 26th annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive on Saturday, May 12. Stamp Out Hunger is the nation’s largest single-day food drive.

Last year, carriers collected 75.3 million pounds of food from local communities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Since the drive began in 1993, total donations have surpassed 1.6 billion pounds of food. The food drive has become the nation’s largest one-day campaign to collect food for distribution to needy families.

Making a donation is easy.  Customers should leave their non-perishable food donations in a bag near their mailbox on Saturday, May 12, before their letter carrier arrives.  In the days leading up to the food drive, letter carriers will be delivering special bags along with your mail that may be used to make donations. Food collected during Saturday’s drive will be delivered to local community churches, food banks and food pantries for distribution.

While all non-perishable donations are welcome, foods that are high in protein such as canned tuna, salmon, beans and peanut butter are most needed.  Canned fruits and vegetables, whole grain, low sugar cereals, macaroni and cheese dinners and 100% fruit juice also top the list of most needed items.

Food Drive TIPS

WHAT TO GIVE: Most-wanted foods include:

  • Canned meats (tuna, chicken, salmon).
  • Canned and boxed meals (soup, chili, stew, macaroni and cheese).
  • Canned or dried beans and peas (black, pinto, lentils).
  • Pasta, rice cereal.
  • Canned fruits.
  • 100 percent fruit juice (canned, plastic or boxed).
  • Canned vegetables.
  • Cooking oil.
  • Boxed cooking mixes (pancake, breads).

WHAT NOT TO GIVE:

  • Rusty or unlabeled cans.
  • Glass containers.
  • Perishable items.
  • Homemade items.
  • No expired items
  • Noncommercial canned or packaged items.
  • Alcoholic beverages or mixes or soda.

Open or used items.