CONTRIBUTED BY
THE FOOD BANK OF EAST ALABAMA
LEE COUNTY —
The Food Bank of East Alabama is asking for the community’s support on May 13 as it joins America’s letter carriers and Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization, in the annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive. Hosted each year by the National Association of Letter Carriers, Stamp Out Hunger is the largest single-day food drive in the country.
The event helps to support local food banks and the one in six Americans who struggle with hunger. For East Alabama, it comes at a time when the Food Bank is seeing a lower than usual inventory as it continues to strive to meet local hunger and food insecurity needs.
“Stamp Out Hunger is like no other food drive. It allows every community across the country to collectively come together on one day to do their part to fight hunger. We are so grateful to community members who donate non-perishable items and for the letter carriers who take the time to collect each bag to help fight hunger in our community,” said Martha Henk, executive director of the Food Bank of East Alabama.
Residents can join the Food Bank of East Alabama and support local residents who struggle with hunger by simply collecting non-perishable food items and leaving them in a sturdy bag near their mailboxes on the morning of May 13. A letter carrier will collect the donations and deliver them to the Food Bank of East Alabama. Items will then be distributed to those facing hunger right here in East Central Alabama.
HOW IT WORKS:
It’s simple! Just leave a bag of non-perishable food items by your mailbox before your mail delivery and your letter carrier will pick it up and deliver it to the Food Bank. All donations stay local.
What foods are most needed?
• Cereal
• Pasta and rice
• Canned fruits and vegetables
• Canned meals such as soups, pasta, stew
• Peanut butter and jelly
• Pasta sauce
• Macaroni and cheese or boxed meals
• Canned protein — tuna, chicken, etc.
• 100% juice
According to Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap study, one in seven Alabama residents faces food insecurity, including 216,040 children. Stamp Out Hunger provides a convenient way for everyone to support neighbors who struggle with hunger.
“Letter carriers are a part of every neighborhood in the nation, and we see the growing need for food assistance in our communities, aid NALC President Fredric Rolando. “On Saturday, May 13, NALC invites everyone to participate in the annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. Together, we can help stamp out hunger in America.”
The Stamp Out Hunger food drive was created in 1993 by the National Association of Letter Carriers to encourage communities to come together in an effort to stock the shelves of food banks and pantries nationwide. The event is held on the second Saturday of May each year.
The total amount of donations picked up over the 31-year history of the drive is more than 1.82 billion pounds.
ABOUT THE FOOD BANK OF EAST ALABAMA
The Food Bank of East Alabama is a nonprofit distribution center working to feed hungry people. The Food Bank is committed to efficiently distributing donated and purchased food through more than 200 qualified agencies such as soup kitchens, shelters and emergency food pantries that serve people in need. Each month throughout seven counties in East Central Alabama, more than 42,000 people rely on the Food Bank for assistance.
ABOUT NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LETTER CARRIERS
The 280,000-member NALC represents letter carriers across the country employed by the U.S. Postal Service, along with retired letter carriers. Founded by Civil War veterans in 1889, the NALC is among the country’s oldest labor unions.