Danny Federico
ECB Publishing, Inc.
Each year, on the second Saturday in May, letter carriers across America take to their routes for a generous mission – the National Association of Letter Carriers' (NALC) Stamp Out Hunger National Food Drive.
Organized by the NALC, with assistance from rural letter carriers, other postal workers and volunteers, this annual event stands as the “largest one-day food drive in the United States.” With participation from more than 10,000 cities and towns nationwide, it symbolizes a collective effort to address the pressing issue of hunger.
Over the past three decades, the Stamp Out Hunger National Food Drive has delivered over 1.9 billion pounds of food to communities in need. The process is simple: letter carriers collect non-perishable food items left by generous postal customers beside their mailboxes or in post offices and then distribute them to local community food banks, pantries and shelters.
According to its website, nearly 1,500 NALC branches spanning all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands participate in the Stamp Out Hunger efforts.
This year's collection date will be on Saturday, May 11. To participate, residents only need to place non-perishable food items in a bag or box next to their mailbox before their letter carrier's delivery. From there, the carriers take charge, collecting the donations, sorting them and ensuring they reach local food banks or pantries, where they become lifelines for families facing hunger.
Statistics paint a stark reality – one in 10 Americans grapples with hunger daily. However, the Stamp Out Hunger food drive offers a way for communities to make a difference. By participating, individuals can directly impact the lives of their neighbors.
To learn more about the NALC Stamp Out Hunger National Food Drive, visit www.nalc.org/community-service/food-drive.