Stamp Out Hunger 2015
Thursday, May 7, 2015
Contributor: Nanci Micke, Vice President of Marketing & Communications at United Way Fox Cities
A very easy way to help those in need
in our community is by supporting the Stamp Out Hunger food
drive. Celebrating its 23nd anniversary this year,
the Stamp Out Hunger food drive is the nation's largest single
day food drive, having collected more than one billion pounds of
food since its inception in 1993. United Way is proud to be one of
the sponsors supporting this year's efforts.
Hunger affects about 49 million people around the country,
including millions of children and senior citizens. Pantry shelves
filled up through winter-holiday generosity often are bare by late
spring. And, with most school meal programs suspended during summer
months, millions of children must find alternate sources of
nutrition. Our United Way 2-1-1 Call Center receives more than 800
calls each year from families who need help with food.
The National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) will be
conducting the Stamp Out Hunger food drive on Saturday, May 9 in
all 50 states and jurisdictions. Non-perishable food donations such
as canned meat and fish, soup, cereals, pasta and rice, can be
placed in a bag near the mailbox before your carrier delivers your
mail.
The nation's 175,000 letter carriers who collect the donations
will be joined by retired letter carriers, family members and
friends, and by countless volunteers to help gather the bags of
non-perishable food items that get left next to generous customers'
mailboxes that morning. The food is taken back to the postal
station, sorted, and then delivered to area food pantries including
St. Joseph Food Program and Salvation Army, where it is available
for families in need.
Don't forget to donate your canned goods this Saturday!