This Saturday, May 9, letter carriers will be picking up crucial food donations across Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as part of the annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive. This event, the largest one-day food drive in the U.S., makes it easy for you to give back to your community.
To participate, simply fill the provided bag—or any bag you have—with non-perishable food and leave it by your mailbox. Letter carriers will collect the donations during their usual routes and deliver them to local food banks. If you don’t have a mailbox, you can leave your items by where you normally receive mail or drop them off at a local USPS post office ahead of the day.
What should you donate? Focus on healthy items like canned fruit in juice, canned vegetables, peanut butter, oatmeal, and dry beans. Avoid donating glass containers, opened items, or homemade goods.
This drive supports local organizations such as Manna Food Pantries and Feeding the Gulf Coast. Kerri Smayda from Manna emphasized its importance: “Every bag collected means hope for someone in our community.” In 2025, letter carriers gathered over 150,000 pounds of food, and given the rising need, they are hoping for even greater support this year.
According to recent statistics, around 12% of households in the U.S. face food insecurity, which highlights the importance of community actions like this one. Laura Gilliam, president of the United Way of West Florida, stresses that such efforts help make sure families don’t have to choose between food and other essentials.
The Stamp Out Hunger drive not only fills plates but also fosters a sense of community. By participating, you contribute to a larger goal of keeping local food pantries stocked and ready to help those in need. Together, small efforts can lead to significant change.
