On Saturday, May 12, the letter carriers of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties will join forces to help Stamp Out Hunger in our community. In its 26th year, the National Association of Letter Carriers’ (NALC) annual food drive has grown to be the largest national single-day effort that benefits millions of Americans who struggle to put food on the table. Last year’s food drive netted 75 million pounds of food to help feed those in need. Locally, organizations received nearly 85,000 pounds of food from the drive.
“Stamp Out Hunger is the most important food drive for many food pantries in the area,†said DeDe Flounlacker, executive director of Manna Food Pantries. “The food collected by the letter carriers is critical to our ability to feed our neighbors in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. The 2017 event was down considerably by about 50%, so we’re looking forward to having an outstanding turnout this year to restock shelves and ensure the immediate needs of the hungry can be met in the coming months.â€
A donation of just one dozen cans provides three days’ worth of food, or nine meals, for neighbors in need. Residents are encouraged to leave a bag of non-perishable food items, such as canned chicken and tuna, canned fruit in 100 percent juice, dry breakfast items (oatmeal, grits, whole grain cereal), canned vegetables, peanut butter, rice and dry beans next to their mailbox before the regular mail delivery on May 12.
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.
Mail carriers will deliver a limited number of bags before the food drive. Residents who do not receive a bag may use any grocery bag on hand to fill with donation items. For more details, visit helpstampouthunger.com.