The National Association of Letter Carriers is asking everyone to leave non-perishable food items by their mailboxes on Saturday, May 8 as part of the nation’s largest annual food drive to combat hunger. On that day, letter carriers will help “Stamp Out Hunger” for the 18th year in a row, an effort that, after Saturday, will have collected a total of more than one billion pounds of food for the needy.
Last year alone, amidst a recession, Americans donated a record 73.4 million pounds of food to the May hunger drive, which was organized in over 10,000 cities and towns in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam.
Just leave a sturdy bag with your cans and boxes of food inside, where your mail is usually delivered. Food will be delivered to food banks, pantries and shelters that serve the communities where they are collected.
NALC President Fredric V. Rolando emphasized that as successful as the food drive has been in the past, it simply must be even better this year.
“Millions and millions of families are suffering – struggling to make ends meet and put food on the table,” Rolando said. “Food banks, pantries and shelters need our help more than ever this year. As families count on them for support, they’re counting on us and we will not back off on our commitment.”
Rolando also noted that donations are particularly critical at this time since most school lunch programs are suspended during the summer months and millions of children must find alternate sources of nutrition.
In New York City, where transportation limitations preclude mailbox pickup, citizens are asked to take donations to their local post offices between May 3 and 8.
Persons who have questions about the drive at their location should ask their letter carrier or contact their local post office.
More than 125 million postcards will be delivered by the U.S. Postal Service on Tuesday to alert customers about the drive. Television and radio public service announcements featuring David Arquette and Courteney Cox are being made available throughout the country.
Mark your calendar and fill a bag today!