Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive

May 12^th is the annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive! On May 12^th letter carriers will do more than drop off and collect mail; they’ll be collecting food donations as well. All food donations will be delivered to Hunger Task Force or the local food bank in your area.

Today we want to answer some questions we’ve heard about this amazing event so you’re ready for the big day!

Are all locations participating?

While the majority of post offices and letter carriers will be accepting donations, this is a voluntary event so not all locations will be participating. You can always call your local post office to see if they are taking part in the event.

Where do I put the food?

Set your non-perishable food in a bag outside by your mailbox, and make sure to do so well before your mail is usually delivered. You can set it beside your mailbox, on your mailbox, or in front of your mailbox, just make sure it is visible.

What if it rains?

Your local letter carrier will be delivering the mail no matter the weather, so don’t worry about it. Plastic bags are better at repelling water than cloth bags, so you may want to consider using them in case of bad weather.

My friend got a postcard and food donation bag and I didn’t. Does that mean I can’t donate?

Not necessarily. Some post offices may work with local groups to create marketing materials for the food drive. We still recommend checking to see if your local area is taking donations.

What types of food need to be donated the most?

Items that food banks usually are looking for the most include canned meat, pasta, rice, canned fruits, canned vegetables, soup, beans, oatmeal, and cereal. Try to donate healthier items when possible.

What should I not donate?

Any food that is perishable should not be donated such as fresh fruits and vegetables. Please don’t donate home-canned items as these cannot be accepted. Do not donate expired food or food that has damaged packaging, as it will not be allowed to be given away.

Can I donate if I have a CBU?

Yep, just leave your donation in front of your CBU like you would any other mailbox!

Stamp Out Hunger Tomorrow

Tomorrow, May 14^th, is the annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive! Over 10,000 cities are invited to participate in the nation’s largest one day food drive.

Image courtesy of usps.com

Participating is easy. All you need to do is leave a bag of non-perishable food items by your mailbox on Saturday May 14^th. Make sure to drop it off early before your letter carrier arrives. They’ll pick it up and your donation will be taken to local food banks, homeless shelters, and more. At this time of year, donations are extremely important. Many people tend to donate during the holiday season of Thanksgiving and Christmas. By May, these donations are growing thin, leaving food banks in desperate need of food to serve to millions of hungry Americans.

While any donation is appreciated, we have some tips of you want to go the extra mile. While some donations will go to families who simply don’t have enough money for enough food, some of your donations will likely go to homeless individuals without the conveniences most of us have. By keeping this in mind, you can provide food that will work for anyone, whether they have access to a kitchen or not.

·        Donate foods that don’t require any type of cooking at all. These are great for homeless individuals, who will be able to eat on the go and have nowhere to prepare food. Examples include cereal, granola bars, and fruit cups.

·        Canned food is great and provides good meals. Soup, beans, and chili are great easy options for those who are hungry. If possible though, try to donate canned food that has lids that do not require can openers. Imagine how frustrating it would be to have access to dinner but be unable to open it.

·        When donating foods that do need to be prepared, try to provide foods that are filling. Ramen is quick and easy, but not a very filling meal. Instead try options such as pasta, dry beans, peanut butter, and rice.

·        Food banks see a lot of donations of canned vegetables and fruits. While this is great, protein is often lacking from food banks. Throw in some canned chicken, tuna, or stews with some type of protein included.

·        Don’t be shy of including some luxury items. When you don’t have enough to eat, splurging on luxury items isn’t possible. People will really appreciate something a little special. Great options include instant coffee, tea, apple sauce, and more.

Your food donations will be a great help to your local community, so consider using your mailbox for something extra special tomorrow! 

Stamp Out Hunger with USPS

Image credit: USPS website

Tomorrow is May 10^th, the second Saturday in May for the year 2014. And that means it is time for the annual NALC Stamp Out Hunger National Food Drive. Tomorrow in over 10,000 cities across the USA, letter carriers will pick up food donations from postal customers.

Letter carriers will take non-perishable food donations to local food banks or shelters. It’s a great cause with amazing results. In the past 20 years over one billion pounds of food has been delivered.

Want to participate and make a difference? All you have to do is place your non-perishable food donation by your mailbox on the second Saturday of May. Make sure you do this before the mail is delivered! If you miss your window, you have all day to drop the donation off at your local post office.

It’s simple and could really help a hungry family out. Consider leaving a can of soup besides your mailbox this Saturday. It will go to a good cause.

To learn more, visit the USPS website: http://about.usps.com/corporate-social-responsibility/nalc-food-drive.htm