This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, conducted annually by the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC). The Stamp Out Hunger effort is the United States’ largest single-day food drive.
Each year, on the second Saturday in May, letter carriers who volunteer additional time throughout their day will collect non-perishable food donations as they deliver mail along their routes. These donations go directly to local food pantries to help people in the community.
According to the NALC, the food drive collected a record 80 million pounds of non-perishable food last year. Over the past 24 years, carriers have collected over one billion pounds of food. Last year in Gorham, residents generously donated just under one ton of food during the drive.
The timing of this food drive is crucial as food banks and pantries often receive the majority of their donations during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday seasons.
By springtime, many pantries are depleted, entering the summer low on supplies at a time when many school breakfast and lunch programs are not available to children in need. With Maine ranking in the top ten list of states most profoundly impacted by food insecurity (15.8%, according to feedingamerica.org), every contribution counts.
Some of the most commonly needed items are: baked beans, boxed meals (mac & cheese, etc.), canned fruits, soups, vegetables and/or meats such as tuna, cereal, pasta, sauce, peanut butter and jelly. The Pantry also accepts some non-food items that may be difficult for clients to obtain, such as coffee or tea, disposable diapers, feminine hygiene products, paper towels or toilet paper, shampoo or soap, and toothbrushes and toothpaste.
This year, the NALC will be partnering with the five Gorham schools to increase participation. Each school will be holding a food drive May 8-12. The food collected at the schools will be collected by letter carriers and donated to the Gorham Food Pantry alongside the donations collected throughout the town.
Donations can always be dropped off in the plastic bin at the Pantry and the post office will also be accepting donations leading up to May 13. Please consider adding an extra can or box of food to your grocery cart this week to support the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive.