Time For Us To Deliver To The Mail Carriers

In days past we used to see letter carriers bringing mail to us in huge leather mail bags (hence the term “mailbag”). Well this Saturday letter carriers throughout our neighborhoods will be hopping to collect bags from us, in this case bags full of non-perishable food. It's time for the annual Stamp Out Food Drive.

To participate, you simply need to leave a bag of those non-perishable food items out by your mail box by 9AM Saturday morning. When your local letter carrier comes to deliver your mail, they will take your donations and get them to local distribution centers.

In the case of Iron County, donations will make their way to the Iron County Care and Share. On their Facebook page, the Care and Share has indicated a specific need for peanut butter, canned tuna and chicken, Boxed meals along with canned vegetables and fruits. You can also drop off donations directly to the Care and Share.

The Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive is an annual initiative organized by the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) in the United States. Established in 1992, the food drive has become the largest single-day food collection event in the nation, aiming to alleviate hunger and support local food banks and pantries. Over the years, the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive has made a significant impact in the fight against hunger.

The idea for the food drive originated from several NALC members who witnessed the plight of hungry individuals and families during their daily mail delivery routes. These compassionate letter carriers sought to use their unique position in communities to make a difference. With the support of their union, they launched the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive as a simple way for residents to contribute to their local food banks.

The inaugural food drive in 1992 was a tremendous success, collecting over 10 million pounds of food across ten participating cities. The overwhelming response from the public inspired the NALC to expand the initiative nationwide the following year. Partnering with local food banks and pantries, letter carriers delivered postcards and plastic bags to households, urging residents to fill the bags with non-perishable food items and leave them by their mailboxes for collection.

As the years passed, the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive grew exponentially. Postal customers embraced the opportunity to support their neighbors in need, and the generosity of communities continued to rise. The NALC collaborated with corporate sponsors, national organizations, and volunteers to promote the event, raise awareness, and streamline the collection process.

This year, as mentioned, the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive is tomorrow, Saturday May 13th. Thousands of letter carriers and volunteers across the country will work tirelessly to collect, sort, and distribute the donated food. The event serves as a powerful reminder of the impact a collective effort can have on combating hunger.

Throughout its history, the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive has consistently demonstrated the power of community engagement and compassion. By providing an easy way for individuals to make a tangible difference in the lives of those struggling with food insecurity, the food drive has become a symbol of hope and solidarity in the fight against hunger.

Let's hope out local letter carriers have a huge delivery to make tomorrow.