Stamp Out Hunger 2013

This Saturday, May 11, is Stamp Out Hunger day across the United States.  This is the 21st annual event of this effort that was started in 1991 with a pilot program in 10 cities. It has become a nationwide event taking place the 2nd Saturday of May that has to date collected more than 1.2 billion pounds of food.  Last year alone more than 70 millions pounds were collected nationwide for local food banks in the cities and counties where the food is collected.

While the National Association of Letter Carriers, the union of city delivery carriers, is the founding organization of this effort, it would not be possible without the partnerships of many groups and businesses.  According to NALC President Fredric Rolando, “Such a massive effort is nearly impossible for us to pull off alone.”  For 2013 these partners include:

• The National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association
• Valpak
• United Way Worldwide
• Campbell Soup
• AFL-CIO
• U.S.Postal Service
• Feeding America
• Uncle Bob’s Self Storage
• AARP and its “Drive to End Hunger” campaign
• GLS Companies
• Source Direct Plastics
• Publix
• Valassis/Red Plum

Along with postal clerks and other employees in each office, these men and women view this effort as one way to give back to the communities they serve every day.  Each employee donates their time, some for several months each year, organizing, coordinating, collecting and disbursing non-perishible foods that customers set out by their mail boxes for the drive.

The annual event began when a few individuals noticed that while there was a strong effort to fill food banks around the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, by the time May rolled around many of these same food banks that had been overflowing were now nearly empty.  The need for food supplies had not diminished, only less visible to the general public.

This event involves nearly every community across the United States with 100s of thousands of individuals, both inside and outside the US Postal Service donating their time and resources to help meet the needs of fellow citizens in their respective communities.  They are all working hard to give a special gift to others, most of whom they will never know or meet.

So now is the time, while you are planning your weekly shopping trip, to add a little extra for your donation to help others who may otherwise go hungry next week. The focus is on non-perishable food items but personal care items are also welcome.  If you're not sure what to get let the following list get you started.

"Suggested items for donating are canned beans, fruit, vegetable, and soup; tuna; cereal; rice; pasta; powdered milk; spaghetti sauce and canned tomatoes; macaroni and cheese; and peanut butter. Please be mindful of expiration dates. Personal care items such as shampoo, soap, and toothpaste, etc are also welcome." ~ courtesy of the Northampton Survival Center

Once you've collected your donations, place them in bags, plastic grocery bags are perfect, and place them by your mail box this Saturday morning.  Do not put them in or on your mail box, just beside it.  When your carrier comes by on their regular daily delivery rounds they will pick up your donation and deliver it to the Post Office where your donation it will be assembled with those of thousands of your fellow citizens and then will be prepared for pick up by the local food bank.

That's all there is to it. With a little bit of effort you can make a big difference in the lives of hurting people in your community, and you deserve to feel good about it.

If for some reason you are unable to be ready for the drive this Saturday or will be out of  town, leave your donation by your mail box on Monday or better yet, take it directly to your Post Office either before this Saturday or no later than Monday of the following week.