The annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive is only a month away. Letter Carriers will be picking up food donations on May 13.
Organized by the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC), the Stamp Out Hunger food drive is in its 31st year. It is the largest one-day food drive in the country. Food collected in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties stays here, helping to feed those who are struggling with food insecurity in our community.
This year, residents in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties can participate by leaving non-perishable food donations at their mailboxes on Saturday, May 13th, for their letter carriers to collect. Donations will benefit local food banks and pantries in both counties, helping to ensure that families in need have access to nutritious food.
“Many folks in need of food assistance right now are the working poor, grandparents raising their grandchildren, and moms and dads who do not have enough money to pay their bills and buy food for their family due to high food, utility, and housing costs,” said DeDe Flounlacker, Executive Director of Manna Food Pantries. “Stamp Out Hunger makes it possible for Manna and many of the area’s food pantries to feed thousands of children, senior citizens, veterans, families, and individuals in need.”
Residents are encouraged to leave a bag of healthy, non-perishable food items, such as canned fruit in 100% juice, canned mixed vegetables, canned chicken, canned tuna, dry breakfast items (oatmeal, whole-grain cereal), peanut butter, and/or dry beans. Residents should not donate items in glass containers or items that have been opened or home-made.
Local food donations will benefit individuals and families served by Manna Food Pantries, Feeding the Gulf Coast, ACTS Ministries, We Care Ministries, and Warrington Emergency Aid Center. Last year Escambia and Santa Rosa letter carriers collected 188,813 pounds of food from generous residents.
Residents of the two-county area will receive a Stamp Out Hunger postcard reminder in the mail, as well as a bag to fill with donation items. For more information about the annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive, please visit nalc.org/community-service/food-drive or uwwf.org/soh.
Several partners are assisting the NALC in the food drive: the United States Postal Service, the National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association (NRLCA), the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), Valpak, United Way, the AFL-CIO, CVS, Kellogg’s and Vericast.
