With the help of sponsors, volunteer organizations and Postal workers everywhere, the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) will conduct its 24th annual nationwide Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive on Saturday, May 12th. Stamp Out Hunger is the nation’s largest single-day food drive.
The yearly drive collects approximately 71 million pounds of non-perishable food that is left in bags next to postal customers’ mailboxes.
Making a donation is easy. Customers should leave their non-perishable food donations in a bag near their mailbox on Saturday, before the letter carrier arrives. In the days leading up to the Food Drive, letter carriers will be delivering notification post cards and special bags along with your mail that may be used to make donations. Food collected during Saturday’s drive will be delivered to local community churches, food banks and food pantries for distribution.
While all non-perishable donations are welcome, foods that are high in protein such as canned tuna, salmon, beans and peanut butter are most needed. Canned fruits and vegetables, whole grain, low sugar cereals, macaroni and cheese dinners and 100% fruit juice also top the list of most needed items.
Recommended items include:
· Canned meats (tuna, chicken, salmon).
· Canned and boxed meals (soup, chili, stew, macaroni and cheese).
· Canned or dried beans and peas (black, pinto, lentils).
· Pasta, rice cereal.
· Canned fruits.
· 100 percent fruit juice (canned, plastic or boxed).
· Canned vegetables.
· Cooking oil.
· Boxed cooking mixes (pancake, breads).
WHAT NOT TO GIVE:
· Rusty or unlabeled cans.
· Glass containers.
· Perishable items.
· Homemade items.
· No expired items
· Noncommercial canned or packaged items.
· Alcoholic beverages or mixes or soda.
· Open or used items.
