Join Us Saturday: How Letter Carriers Are Fighting Hunger with the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive!

This Saturday marks the 33rd anniversary of the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, the largest one-day food drive in the United States. Every second Saturday in May, letter carriers across the nation collect non-perishable food items from homes. These donations go directly to local food banks, like the Harry Chapin Food Bank in Fort Myers, helping those in need.

The impact of this drive has been profound. Over the past 30 years, it has gathered more than 1.9 billion pounds of food, thanks to the dedicated postal service network that reaches across the country and territories like Puerto Rico and Guam.

Why is this drive so important? Currently, over 44 million Americans, including 14 million children, face food insecurity. Many of these kids struggle to perform in school because of hunger. Additionally, around 5.5 million seniors over 60 experience food insecurity, often feeling embarrassed to seek help.

The timing of this food drive is essential. Food banks typically receive most of their donations during the winter holidays. By spring, supplies often dwindle, making it harder to support children during the summer months when school meal programs are unavailable.

Participating is easy! Just leave a bag of non-perishable food by your mailbox this Saturday, and your letter carrier will handle the rest. Your donations can truly make a difference in someone’s life.

For more information about local food collections, check your letter carrier’s coverage or enter your ZIP code at this link.

This drive is not just about collecting food; it’s about community. In a time when social media highlights food insecurity, conversations around this drive can amplify awareness and motivate others to contribute. Let’s make a collective effort to stamp out hunger.

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