Each year on the second Saturday in May, letter carriers across the United States collect non-perishable food donations from customers that benefit local food pantries in need. This Saturday, May 11th will mark the 32nd anniversary of the National Association of the Letter Carries Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. Local United States Postal Service Letter Carrier Amanda Schneider informs how you can be involved:
“This is a great time to get those special items that the pantries don’t normally get. Just put them in a bag, you can set them inside the mailbox, around the mailbox, or you can wait until the carrier shows up and hand it to them. We will have volunteers out that will not be in a Postal uniform, but kindly give them the donations and we will handle it and it all stays in the community.”
Locally, donated food items will directly benefit the Jamieson Community Center. Executive Director Nancy Mowen shares items that are in the greatest need:
“One important thing is that the food is not expired. We are looking for basic needs for people; canned tuna, canned chicken, peanut butter, and cereal is always a huge need. We ask that the cereal be low in sugar. Just think of the things that you eat within the week, the staples, that is what we are looking for.”
Throughout the 30 year history of the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, over 1.9 billion pounds of food has been collected.
