You can help tackle hunger by putting a bag of nonperishable food by your mailbox Saturday, May 9.
The annual United States Postal Service’s “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive is in concert with the local chapter 4716 of the National Association of Letter Carriers who will collect the donations.
Meals of Hope, the nonprofit food distributor in Collier, is partnering with the NALC 4716 in the food drive.
All you have to do is leave the nonperishables in a bag by your mail box before your mail gets delivered Saturday so your mail carrier can collect it. All of the donations will be dropped off at Meals of Hope’s warehouse.
Last year 65,000 pounds of food was collected in Collier during the annual food drive and the goal is to surpass that this year, Stephen Popper, president and chief executive officer of Meals of Hope, said in a news release.
“Every bag left at a mailbox translates directly into food for a family in Collier County,” Popper said.
“This drive is one of the most tangible ways our neighbors can fight hunger without leaving their front porch, and the response from this community every year reminds us that Southwest Florida takes care of its own,” he said.
Suggested items include canned proteins, peanut butter, canned vegetables, pasta, rice, and cereal. Make sure the food is not expired.
The Stamp Out Hunger event, always held on the second Saturday of May, is in its 34th year.
“We are proud to continue this partnership and see the impact it brings to our community,” Matt Naufel, president of NALC Branch 4716, said. “Our letter carriers are dedicated not only to their daily routes but also to making a difference in the lives of those facing food insecurity.”
The drive comes at a critical time for families across Southwest Florida.
Food prices at grocery stores is projected to rise by as much as 3.6% this year, according to the USDA Economic Research Service.
Federal cuts to SNAP benefits, also known as food stamps, is impacting low-income households nationwide.
How big is Stamp Out Hunger?
Letter carriers in more than 10,000 cities take part in largest one-day food drive in the U.S.
Nearly 1,500 NALC branches in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands are involved.
The drive has delivered more than 1.82 billion pounds of food the past 30 years, according to the U.S. Postal Service.
Meals of Hope serves thousands of families each week through 15 neighborhood pantries, a regional food distribution hub, a mobile choice food pantry, and a home delivery initiative to reach families who cannot get to a pantry on their own.
For more information visit mealsofhope.org.
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Liz Freeman is a health care reporter. Reach her by emailing lfreeman@naplesnews.com
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This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Naples’ mail carriers will collect food donations May 9 at mailboxes
Reporting by Liz Freeman, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Naples Daily News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
