Hunger is a serious problem in America. The most recent government statistics on hunger show that in 2014, 48.1 million Americans lived in food-insecure households, including more than 15 million children. One in seven Americans struggles to get something to eat.
On Saturday, May 14, you can help make a difference. The National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC), the U.S. Postal Service and others will join together to help more than 48 million Americans, including one in five children, who face hunger every day.
Helping to make a difference
In addition to delivering mail, letter carriers in more than 10,000 cities and towns across America are conducting the nation’s largest one-day food drive. Nearly 1,500 local NALC branches in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands will collect donated non-perishable food items for distribution to local food banks and pantries.
In addition to the NALC and Postal Service, other supporters of the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive include: the National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association (NRLCA); AFL-CIO; United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW); United Way; Valpak and Valassis.
“For over two decades, the Postal Service has joined the National Association of Letter Carriers and others to help Stamp Out Hunger in America,” said Postmaster General and CEO Megan J. Brennan. “As we come together to help feed America’s hungry, I encourage our customers across the country to support this vital one-day food drive. Working together, we will continue making a difference in the lives of millions of Americans in need.”
Last year’s food drive resulted in over 71 million pounds of food collected by Postal Service carriers nationally, feeding an estimated 30 million people.
Donating food when it’s needed most
The food drive’s timing is crucial. Food banks and pantries often receive the majority of their donations during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday seasons. By springtime, many pantries are depleted, entering the summer low on supplies at a time when many school breakfast and lunch programs are not available to children in need.
People who rely on the food donations collected through the Stamp Out Hunger drive discuss its importance in a new video.
In addition to the video with food drive recipients, NALC has produced a brief public service announcement featuring actor Edward James Olmos.
Occasionally, a customer wants to make a monetary donation to the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive instead of, or in addition to, a donation of food. While donations of food are strongly preferred over monetary donations, customers who wish to donate money to support the food drive may put the notation “Letter Carriers’ Food Drive” on a check or money order (no cash), and mail it in a stamped envelope addressed to their local food bank, food pantry, or shelter. Federal law does not permit a letter carrier – or any other postal employee – to accept monetary donations of any kind for the food drive (or any other purpose), and envelopes may not be left in mail boxes without postage.
How the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive works
Leave a non-perishable food donation in a bag by the mailbox on Saturday, May 14, and the Postal Service carrier will do the rest. It’s that simple and millions of Americans will be helped.
Learn more about the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive today. Capture the action on or before Saturday, May 14, by sharing photos on Facebook and Twitter using the #StampOutHunger hashtag.
Do your part to help Stamp Out Hunger!