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Residents can place non-perishable donations by their mailbox

Saturday, May 10, marks the 33rd anniversary of the largest one-day food drive in the nation – the National Association of Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger® Food Drive. Over the years, more than 1.9 billion pounds have been collected.

Each year on the second Saturday in May, letter carriers across the country collect non-perishable food donations from our customers. The top requested non-perishable food items are cereal, pasta, pasta sauce or spaghetti sauce, rice, canned fruits and vegetables, canned meals (such as soups, chili and pasta), 100 percent juice, peanut butter, macaroni and cheese, canned protein (tuna, chicken and turkey), and beans (canned or dry). You can also donate healthy, low-sodium, low-sugar items such as beans, oatmeal, and other whole grains, and canola or olive oil. These donations go directly to local food banks and pantries.

Currently, more than 44 million Americans are unsure where their next meal will come from. More than 14 million children feel the impact on their overall health and ability to perform in school. Nearly 5.5 million seniors over age 60 are food insecure, with many who live on fixed incomes and are embarrassed to seek help.

Participating in this year’s Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger® Food Drive is simple. Just leave non-perishable food donations in a bag by your mailbox on Saturday, May 10, and your letter carrier will do the rest.