Every second Saturday in May letter carriers in more than 10,000 cities and towns across America deliver much more than mail when they walk and drive along their postal routes. They also collect the goodness and compassion of their postal customers who participate in the NALC Stamp Out Hunger National Food Drive - the largest one-day food drive in the nation and probably the world. California carriers will be participating in this event. Led by letter carriers represented by the National Association of Letter Carriers (AFL-CIO), with the help of rural letter carriers, other postal employees and numerous other volunteers, the drive has resulted in delivery of more than one billion pounds of donations to community food banks and pantries over the past 18 years. On Saturday, May 14, carriers will collect non-perishable food donations left by mailboxes and in post offices and deliver them to local community food banks, pantries and shelters. Last year, the California carriers and many volunteers collected 5,000 pounds of food by 12:30 p.m., to help feed those in need in our community. The U.S. Postal Service and Campbell Soup Company are major supporters of the drive. Campbell Soup also earmarked an additional one million pound canned food donation to the drive. Other supporters are Cox Target Media and its Valpak Direct Marketing Systems, the nationwide direct mail marketing firm, which promotes the drive on 40 million packets delivered to postal customers. The drive also relies on the backing of the National Rural Letter Carriers Association, the Feeding America food bank network; the United Way of America and its local United Ways, the AFL-CIO Community Services network, and countless local sponsors. All citizens need do is to place the food next to their mailbox before their letter carrier delivers mail on Saturday, May 14. The carrier will do all the rest. The food is taken back to a postal station, sorted, and then delivered to The California Nutrition Center. There it is available for needy families.
Krystal Barnes, California Postmaster said, "With many men, women and children living at risk of hunger, please join me and many other residents of the California area by placing a non-perishable food donation next to your mailbox to help Stamp Out Hunger."
Some 35.5 million people face hunger every day in America, including 13 million children. This drive is one way people can help those right in their own city or town who need help. The NALC food drive has received a number of accolades over the years, including two Presidential Certificates of Achievement.
Help the U.S. Postal Service Stamp Out Hunger!