Learn about the largest one-day food drive in the nation and how to contribute

Every second Saturday in May for over 30 years now, letter carriers in more than 10,000 cities across America participate in the National Association of Letter Carriers – or NALC – Stamp Out Hunger National Food Drive. It’s the largest one-day food drive in the nation.

This Saturday, May 10, will be the NALC’s 33rd Drive.

To learn more about the drive and how the public can contribute to it, KGNU’s Jackie Sedley was joined in the studio by:

• Sherry Moreland and Diane Santoyo, who are both letter carriers and coordinators for the NALC.
• Ellen Ross, the Director of Development & Communications at Emergency Family Assistance Association (EFAA) – who partner with the NALC in the City of Boulder to do the Food Drive every year.
• Diane Santoyo, a letter carrier and one of the coordinators for the NALC.

How can people donate? 

Making a donation to the food drive is easy. Customers should leave their non-perishable food donations in a bag near their mailbox on Saturday, May 11, before their letter carrier arrives. In the days leading up to the food drive, letter carriers will be delivering special bags along with your mail that may be used to make donations. Food collected during Saturday’s drive will be delivered to local community churches, food banks and food pantries for distribution.

What should people donate? 

While all non-perishable donations are welcome, foods that are high in protein such as canned tuna, salmon, beans and peanut butter are most needed. Canned fruits and vegetables, whole grain, low sugar cereals, macaroni and cheese dinners and 100% fruit juice also top the list of most needed items.

What to give/most wanted foods:

• Canned meats (tuna, chicken, salmon).
• Canned and boxed meals (soup, chili, stew, macaroni and cheese).
• Canned or dried beans and peas (black, pinto, lentils).
• Pasta, rice cereal.
• Canned fruits.
• 100 percent fruit juice (canned, plastic or boxed).
• Canned vegetables.
• Cooking oil.
• Boxed cooking mixes (pancake, breads).

What NOT to give: 

• Rusty or unlabeled cans.
• Glass containers.
• Perishable items.
• Homemade items.
• No expired items.
• Noncommercial canned or packaged items.
• Alcoholic beverages or mixes or soda.
• Open or used items.

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