Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive This Weekend
The National Association of Letter Carriers will conduct its 24rd annual food drive on Saturday, May 14.
Letter carriers will collect non-perishable food donations on that day as they deliver mail along their postal routes. It is the nation’s largest single-day food drive, and is held annually on the second Saturday in May in 10,000 cities and towns in all 50 states – including Kosciusko County.
With the extreme weather experienced this winter by much of the country, along with the economic struggles many Americans face, the Letter Carriers’ Food Drive never hasbeen more important.
Hunger affects about 49 million people around the country, including millions of children and senior citizens. And one in four households with a member currently serving in the US military turns to the Feeding America network for food assistance. Pantry shelves filled up through winter holiday generosity often are bare by late spring. And, with most school meal programs not available during summer months, millions of children must find alternate sources of nutrition.
On May 14, as they deliver mail, the nation’s 175,000 letter carriers will collect donations left by residents near their mail boxes. People are encouraged to leave a sturdy bag containing non perishable foods such as canned soup; canned vegetables; canned meats and fish; pasta; peanut butter; rice or cereal next to their mailbox before the regular mail delivery on Saturday.
Carriers will bring the food to local food banks, pantries or shelters, including many affiliated with Feeding America, which is a national partner in the drive, as are the US Postal Service, United Way Worldwide, the National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association, the AFL CIO, Valpak and Valassis.
For those unable to participate in the food drive, donations may be taken to area post offices. People who have questions about the drive in their area should ask their letter carrier or contact their local post office.