National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 466 and the National Rural Letter Carrier’s Association, in collaboration with the United States Post Service, United Way of Greater Lafayette and Food Finders Food Bank, will once again participate in the National Association of Letter Carriers’ (NALC) Annual “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive held on Saturday, May 12.
On that day, all you have to do is leave a bag or bags of non-perishable food by your mailbox before your letter carrier’s normal pickup time. Food donations will go directly to Food Finders Food Bank for distribution to its partner agencies.
Nearly 49 million Americans—1 in 6—are unsure where their next meal is coming from. This includes 13 million children as well as about 5 million seniors over age 60—many of whom live on fixed incomes and often are too embarrassed to ask for help. In Tippecanoe County, 15.8% of population or more than 29,000 individuals do not know where their next meal is coming from. 17.3 % or 6,560 are under the age of 18.
Letter carriers see these struggles in the communities they serve, and believe that it is important to do what they can to help.
“Over its first quarter-century, the food drive has only grown in importance and in impact,” NALC President Fredric Rolando said. “It’s an honor to be able to help people in need all across the United States – and to do so in a way that brings out the best in so many Americans.”
The timing is important, with food banks, pantries and shelters running low on donations from the winter holidays and with summer approaching, when most school meal programs are suspended.
Last year, letter carriers collected 75.3 million pounds of food, the third-highest amount since the food drive began in 1993. That brought the total over the past quarter-century to almost 1.6 billion pounds.
On May 12, as they deliver mail, the nation’s letter carriers will collect the donations that residents have left near their mailboxes. People are encouraged to leave a sturdy bag containing non-perishable foods, such as canned soup, canned vegetables, canned meats and fish, pasta, rice or cereal next to their mailbox before the regular mail delivery on Saturday.
People who have questions about the drive in their area should ask their letter carrier, contact their local post office, or go to nalc.org/food, facebook.com/StampOutHunger or twitter.com/StampOutHunger.
About Food Finders:
Since 1981, Food Finders Food Bank, a member of Feeding America, has worked to provide full service programs that meet the nutritional needs of thousands of hungry families in North Central Indiana. The food bank operates programs to cost-effectively secure donated and purchased food, provide food to families in need, and educate the community about the efficient use of food resources. Food Finders distributed more than nine million pounds of food annually, throughout the 16 counties it serves. For more information or to make a donation, contact Food Finders Food Bank, Inc. at 765.471.0062 or visit www.food-finders.org.