Letter carriers to host annual ‘Stamp Out Hunger’ food drive

On Saturday, letter carriers throughout northwest Pennsylvania will once again “Stamp Out Hunger” to benefit Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania and its 384 food pantries and meal programs. The National Association of Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive is recognized as the largest single-day food drive nationwide.

Last year, the collaborative efforts of letter carriers, dedicated volunteers and donors in northwest Pennsylvania resulted in the collection of more than 81,000 donated pounds of food for Second Harvest Food Bank and its partners. These contributions played a vital role in supporting families facing food insecurity.

“Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, last year’s Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive collected more than 81,000 pounds of food to help feed our neighbors in need,” said Gregory D. Hall, CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank. “Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania is deeply grateful for the ongoing support of our community and the partnership with the National Association of Letter Carriers. The Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive provides nutritious foods and hope to families experiencing hunger throughout the region. We are proud to stand alongside the letter carriers, volunteers and supporters who make this annual event a success.”

Nearly one in five Americans are unsure where their next meal will come from. The timing of the letter carrier food drive is significant — by spring, food pantries are largely depleted of winter holiday food donations, and school lunch programs are about to close for the summer.

“Letter carriers see every day the struggles that people in their communities face,” NALC President Brian L. Renfroe said. “For more than three decades, we’ve helped to meet their needs, and we are proud to do so again.”

Anyone with a mailbox can join in this initiative by placing a sturdy bag filled with nonperishable food items, such as canned goods, pasta, rice and cereal, beside the mailbox early on May 10. Donors are requested to ensure that the food items are securely packaged in unbreakable containers like boxes or cans. Glass or homemade items will not be accepted for donation. 

The annual food drive wouldn’t be possible without the support of NALC’s national partners: the U.S. Postal Service, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, the National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association, RR Donnelley, United Way Worldwide, the AFL-CIO, Valpak, Kellanova and CVS Health. These partners help by paying for the specially marked postcards, donating thousands of pounds of food and thousands of dollars to food pantries, donating paper bags that letter carriers distribute to customers, gathering volunteers or getting out the message about the food drive.

Anyone interested in participating in the food drive virtually can make a donation online at nwpafoodbank.org.

Postal carriers, alongside Stamp Out Hunger volunteers, will be traversing neighborhoods throughout the region, gathering donations and delivering them to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania and its partner food pantries and meal programs.

“The Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive helps ensure that families, children, veterans, seniors and people experiencing food insecurity have access to the nutritious food that they need,” Hall added. “Every donation collected goes directly to Second Harvest Food Bank and our partner food pantries and meal programs.”

For further details, please visit www.nwpafoodbank.org. If a food donation was not picked up, reach out to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania at 814-459-3663 ext 113. More information about the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive can be found online at nalc.org/food.

About the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania

The mission of the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania is to provide food to those in need within 11 counties of northwest Pennsylvania, while creating awareness and educating the community on the realities of hunger. Last year, Second Harvest distributed over 12.5 million pounds of food through an anti-hunger network of 384 partner organizations. Second Harvest serves the following 11 counties in northwest Pennsylvania: Cameron, Clarion, Clearfield, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Forest, Jefferson, McKean, Venango and Warren.