Postal Carriers Enlist Public Support to Stamp Out Hunger

On Saturday, May 11, people from across the country will partner with their letter carriers to help "Stamp Out Hunger." Now in its 21st year, the Stamp Out Hunger food drive is the largest single-day effort to combat hunger in America and the largest single-day food drive for food banks in the Bay Area.

To participate, place a sturdy bag of non-perishable food items like peanut butter, pasta, rice, low-sugar cereal, and canned foods such as tuna, meat, stew, soup, and vegetables, by their mailbox before their mail is delivered on Saturday, May 11. Letter carriers will collect the food items and deliver them to their local food bank!

"As Letter Carriers, we’re out on the streets every day, meeting our neighbors, and have even become a part of many families in the communities we serve," said Anthony Lowe, Alameda County’s NALC Food Drive coordinator. "But we also see who’s struggling – and unfortunately those numbers are growing. This drive means a lot to the letter carriers, personally, to be able to make a difference in our neighbors’ lives during this time. We thank the community for all of their support to make this drive so successful."

Last year, the Bay Area Stamp Out Hunger food drive collected more than 835,000 pounds of food for those in need.

"Bay Area food banks serve over 600,000 people each month, and need typically spikes during the summer when low-income families who rely on free- and reduced-priced school meals struggle to bridge the gap during school break," said Suzan Bateson, executive director of Alameda County Community Food Bank. "Thanks to the generous support of the community during the Stamp Out Hunger food drive, we are able to better ensure our neighbors have the food and support they need during this difficult time."

If you miss your letter carrier, or have a PO box, you can still participate! Our friends at Alameda County Libraries are hosting food drive barrels where you can drop off donations on May 11 and every day they are open:

• Castro Valley, 3600 Norbridge Road, (510) 667-7900
• Dublin, 200 Civic Plaza Place, (925) 833-6645
• Fremont, 2400 Stevenson Blvd, (510) 745-1400
• Newark, 6300 Civic Terrace Ave., (510) 795-2627
• San Lorenzo, 395 Paseo Grande, (510) 670-6283
• Union City, 34007 Alvarado Niles Blvd., (510) 745-1464