The National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) will conduct its 23rd annual nationwide Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive on Saturday, May 9th. Stamp Out Hunger is the nation’s largest single-day food drive. Last year, with the help of thousands of volunteers and food bank staff members, letter carriers all across America collected more than 74.4 million pounds of non-perishable food—the second-highest amount since the drive began in 1992, bringing the grand total to just under 1.3 billion pounds. Harvest Hope collected 8,216 pounds of food from its partner Florence post office, or the equivalent of 6,320 meals.
Making a donation is easy. Customers should leave their non-perishable food donations in a bag near their mailbox on Saturday, May 9th, 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 be used to make your donations. Food collected during Saturday’s drive will be delivered to local community 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.
