United Way and National Association of Letter Carriers Celebrate Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive

On Saturday, May 11, 2013, United Ways across the country will join forces with the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) and other corporate partners to help Stamp Out Hunger. Now in its 21st year, the annual food drive has grown from a regional to a national effort that provides assistance to the millions of Americans struggling to put food on the table.

The Stamp Out Hunger food drive, held on the second Saturday in May, has become the nation’s largest single-day food drive benefitting Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization. In 2012, generous Americans donated 70 million pounds of food, which marked the ninth consecutive year that at least 70 million pounds were collected by letter carriers.

“Thanks to the dedicated efforts of the nation’s letter carriers, local United Ways and folks around the nation, on one day each year more than 70 million pounds of food is collected and distributed to support individuals, families and communities,” said Stacey Stewart, U.S. President, United Way Worldwide. “United Way has been a partner with the National Association of Letter Carriers in this annual event since 1991, and we are proud to continue our support this year.”

The need for food assistance continues to exist in every community in America, no matter how rich or poor. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, more than 50 million Americans are food insecure, meaning they live at risk of hunger. Perhaps most alarming is the fact that nearly 17 million children in America are struggling with hunger.

“We’re incredibly excited for the 21st year of the Stamp Out Hunger food drive,” said Fredric V. Rolando, NALC president. “We’re asking people across the country for their support to make this year the most successful in the drive’s history. It’s so easy to make a donation: simply leave a bag of non-perishable food items by your mailbox to help neighbors in need. That’s all it takes."

To participate in the annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive, residents are encouraged to leave a sturdy bag containing non-perishable food items, such as canned soup, canned vegetables, peanut butter, pasta, rice or cereal, next to their mailbox prior to the time of regular mail delivery on Saturday, May 11. Letter carriers will collect these food donations as they deliver the mail.

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.