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.
KGNU’s Jackie Sedley spoke with Sherry Moreland, a letter carrier and one of the coordinators for the NALC, as well as W Walter O’Toole, food bank manager at Emergency Family Assistance Association – who partner with the NALC to do the Food Drive every year. They started by asking Moreland and O’Toole: what sets the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive apart from other drives in the country?
Listen:
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StampOutHunger Jackie Sedley
Food Drive TIPS
HOW TO GIVE:
“Making a donation 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 TO GIVE:
Most-wanted foods include:
- 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.
