Letter Carriers celebrate the 25th Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive

On Saturday, May 13, Escambia and Santa Rosa Letter Carriers will join forces to help Stamp Out Hunger in our community. In its 25th year, the annual food drive has grown to the largest national single-day effort that benefits millions of Americans who struggle to put food on the table.

“This is the single most important food drive in the two counties and will largely determine how well providers will meet the needs of the hungry in the coming months,” said DeDe Flounlacker, Manna Food Pantries’ Executive Director.

Residents are encouraged to leave a sturdy bag of non-perishable foods, such as canned soup, canned vegetables, pasta, rice or cereal next to their mailbox prior regular mail delivery on Saturday, May 13. Escambia and Santa Rosa letter carriers will collect food donations for local food banks including: Manna Food Pantries, Warrington Emergency Aid Center, Feeding the Gulf Coast in Pace and Milton, ACTS Ministry of Holley Assembly of God in Gulf Breeze, and We Care Ministries of Navarre United Methodist Church. Last year, the organizations received a total of 72,367 pounds of food from the drive.

“We rely on this food drive to keep our shelves fully stocked to help needy families, children, seniors and the homeless in Gulf Breeze and Navarre,” said Pastor Doug Barber, ACTS Ministry of Holley Assembly of God. “Without the help from the NALC and the community during the annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive, ACTS Ministry would almost be non-existent.”

Last year, Manna Food Pantries helped a total of 21,129 individuals through their pantries and programs in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. Of those, 37 percent were children and 27 percent were senior citizens. Manna helped a total of 11,254 families and 14 percent of them were active duty, reserve, retired or veteran military.

“I would like to thank everyone in our community who donates food, our volunteers, local businesses,” said Phillip Skipper, President of the National Association of Letter Carriers Northwest Florida Branch 321. “Please give generously this year, so we can help provide food to those who are less fortunate.”

For more information about the annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive visit www.helpstampouthunger.com or www.facebook.com/StampOutHunger, and follow the drive at www.twitter.com/StampOutHunger.