This year’s Stamp Out Hunger initiative occurs on Saturday, May 13. Spearheading the drive locally is Melissa Blackburn of the Springfield Post Office. Between 100 and 110 letter carriers will be collecting non-perishable food items along their delivery routes and depositing the donated food at Second Harvest Food Bank of Clark, Champaign & Logan Counties.
Urbana Postmaster Keith Etherington said his office is participating in this year’s food drive after a several-year absence, and local carriers have delivered postcards containing information about the event to residences throughout the city.
To participate in the food drive, place non-perishable food products in a bag and leave them where the letter carrier delivers mail to your residence.
Etherington said city residents can also drop off their donations at the post office, 200 S. Main St., during normal business hours today and Saturday.
Tyra Jackson, executive director of Second Harvest Food Bank, said, “Our Wish List items for this year’s Stamp Out Hunger food drive include boxed mac & cheese or boxed pasta products, canned fruits and canned meats. These are the items most frequently requested from our member agencies and clients. It’s through efforts like the Stamp Out Hunger Campaign that we are reminded of just how generous our neighbors are.”
Stamp Out Hunger is held in 10,000 municipalities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Guam. Among the many local volunteer groups that will help are the United Way, Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, National Guard units, American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars, Boy/Girl Scouts, various student groups, Rotary Clubs and AARP groups.
“Many people in this country struggle with hunger every day,” National Association of Letter Carriers President Fredric Rolando said. “We are honored to be able to help people in need by leading an effort that brings out the best in so many Americans. Six days a week, letter carriers see first-hand the needs in the communities where we work, and we’re committed to helping meet those needs.”
For more than a decade, the drive has annually collected more than 70 million pounds of food. Over the course of its history, the food drive has collected 1.4 billion pounds of food.
