Letter carriers walk through their communities every day, often coming face to face with a sad reality for too many — hunger.
So, each year since 1992, letter carriers across the nation have collected non-perishable food donations from their customers on the second Saturday of May. These donations go directly to local food pantries to feed the hungry.
More than 74 million pounds of food was collected during the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, feeding 30 million people. During its 21-year history, the food drive has collected more than 1 billion pounds of food to help feed hungry people across the United States, as well as Puerto Rico, Guam and U.S. Virgin Islands.
This year’s food drive will be held Saturday, May 10. The need for donations is great. Forty-nine million Americans — 1 in 6 — are unsure where their next meal is coming from. Sixteen million are children who feel hunger’s impact on their overall health and ability to perform in school. And almost 5 million seniors age 60 and older are “food insecure,” with many who live on fixed incomes often too embarrassed to ask for help.
The timing of the food drive is critical. 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.
Participating in this year’s Letter Carrier Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive is simple. Just leave a non-perishable food donation in a bag by your mailbox on May 10 and your letter carrier will do the rest.
Join in America’s great day of giving and help fight to end hunger.
