Letter carriers from across the country will once again collect non-perishable food donations as part of the National Association of Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, taking place this Saturday.
Now in its 33rd year, the single-day food drive, billed as the largest such event in the nation, aims to fight hunger in local communities by tapping into the daily reach of U.S. Postal Service carriers.
Homeowners, renters and other residents can participate in the annual initiative by placing a bag of non-perishable food next to their mailbox before regular mail delivery. Their letter carrier will collect the donation and ensure it’s delivered to a local food pantry, USPS officials said.
Over the past three decades, letter carriers and postal customers have donated more than 1.9 billion pounds of food through the annual drive, which includes participation from all 50 states as well as Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
This year’s campaign comes at a critical time, USPS says, as more than 44 million Americans are food insecure, including over 14 million children and 5.5 million seniors.
With food banks often running low in the spring and many school meal programs paused for summer, demand is typically high this time of year.
Letter carriers, who see hunger’s impact daily in the communities they serve, are urging the public to step up and help restock local pantries.
USPS customers are encouraged to check whether their ZIP Code is covered by visiting nalc.org or by contacting their local post office.