Stamp Out Hunger drive marks 10 years of feeding Fall River-area families. How to help.

The United Way of Greater Fall River is celebrating a decade of collaboration with the National Association of Letter Carriers for the Stamp Out Hunger food drive.

The event, set for May 10, encourages residents to donate non-perishable food items by leaving them next to their mailboxes for collection by letter carriers. The collected food is then distributed to local pantries, providing essential support during a time when donations typically wane, according to a community announcement.

This year, 59,000 biodegradable bags will be distributed to homes in Fall River and Somerset for residents to fill with items like pasta, cereal, oatmeal and canned goods.

The drive is supported by community partners BankFive, Blount Fine Foods and Saint Anne’s Hospital/Brown University Health. Over the past 10 years, the initiative has delivered more than 813,000 pounds of food to those in need.

“In a region where one in three children live in poverty and one in five adults struggle with food insecurity, efforts like this matter deeply,” said Kim Smith, executive director of the United Way of Greater Fall River. “A warm meal can make all the difference — offering not just nutrition, but dignity, energy and the strength to face another day.”

The drive comes at a crucial time, as food insecurity continues to affect many in Bristol County.

“Letter carriers travel through our communities every day,” said Paul Knarr, a letter carrier who leads the local effort. “They come to know the faces and families behind each address. For those facing food insecurity, these familiar faces are more than mail carriers — they are quiet ambassadors of care.”

For those looking to contribute beyond the food drive, donations can be made to the United Way of Greater Fall River’s Annual Campaign at uwgfr.org.

The community can also stay updated by following @UnitedWayGFR on social media.

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