31st N.A.L.C. Stamp Out Hunger Slated for Saturday, May 11, 2024

                                                                          31st NALC Stamp Out Hunger® Food Drive Set for Saturday, May 11

NALC Letter Carriers, With Generous Support of the Community, Will Restock   Food Bank’s Shelves for Summer Months During Largest Food Drive of the Year

WHO:              National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) #330 and #820.

WHAT:           31st Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive.

On the second Saturday in May, letter carriers in more than 10,000 communities will collect food donations along their postal routes to restock food banks and pantries during Stamp Out Hunger. 

Stamp Out Hunger is the nation’s largest one-day food drive and the Food Bank of Northern Indiana’s largest food drive each year.

The Food Bank of Northern Indiana’s goal is to collect 100,000 lbs. of non-perishable food items to restock its shelves for the summer months when the need is high and food drive donations are typically low. 

Most needed items include:

• Canned Soup
• Boxed Dinner Meals
• Dried Beans (pinto, black, great northern, kidney)
• Dried Lentils
• Peanut Butter
• Jelly
• Breakfast Cereal
• Macaroni and Cheese
• Boxed Noodles (egg noodles, elbow macaroni, spaghetti)
• Canned Fruit (low sugar is preferred)
• Canned Vegetables (low sodium is preferred)
• Canned Chicken, Tuna, and Spam
• Rice (brown or white)
• Boxed Mashed Potatoes
• Flour
• Cooking Oil
• Personal Care Items (toilet paper, bar soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, body wash, etc.)
• Cleaning Supplies (laundry detergent, dish soap, all-purpose cleaner, etc.)

*No glass jars.

*Pop top lids are preferred.

The NALC Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive is an outgrowth of a tradition of community service by letter carriers over the years. A pilot food drive was held in 10 cities in October 1991, and a revamped food drive was organized for the second Saturday in May beginning in 1993 with a goal of having at least one NALC branch in each of the 50 states participating.

National partners assisting the NALC in the food drive include: the U.S. Postal Service, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), the National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association, Vericast, United Way Worldwide, AFL-CIO, Valpak, Kellanova, Vericast, and CVS Health.

In 2023, the Food Bank collected 54,651lbs.; in 2022, the Food Bank collected 80,338 lbs.; in 2019, the Food Bank collected 106,498 lbs.; in 2018, the Food Bank collected 100,199 lbs.; in 2017, the Food Bank collected 115,898 lbs.; the 2016 drive collected 81,932 lbs.; the 2015 drive collected 87,000 lbs. the 2014 drive collected 112,000 lbs.; the 2013 drive collected 128,000 lbs.; the 2012 drive collected 132,000 lbs.; the 2011 drive collected 97,000 lbs. and the 2010 drive collected 104,000 lbs. Stamp Out Hunger was suspended in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic.

Hunger is a community health issue and exists in every community in the United States. According to Feeding America’s 2023 Map the Meal Gap (2021 Data), 76,400 (10.3%) residents in northern Indiana are food insecure. In St. Joseph County, 29,810 (11%) residents are food insecure.

WHEN:           Saturday, May 11, 2024.

During the week of May 6, letter carriers in St. Joseph County will deliver a reminder postcard or postcard/bag to residents in their mailboxes. Postcards will not be delivered to apartment complexes.

Place non-perishable items in a sturdy bag by their mailbox by 8 a.m. If it looks like rain, please use a plastic bag. These donations will be delivered to the Food Bank. Please do not include any glass containers items.

If residents are not going to be home on Stamp Out Hunger Saturday, they can drop off their donation at any postal branch retail counter before the drive. In addition, orange Food Bank food drive collection barrels will be located at Martin’s Super Market locations in South Bend, Mishawaka and Granger, the week of May 6, to collect donations.

WHERE:         Stamp Out Hunger takes place in communities across the nation.

                    In St. Joseph County, donations will be delivered to the Food Bank of Northern Indiana, 702 Chapin Street, South Bend, IN 46601.

The Food Bank of Northern Indiana works in partnership to feed the hungry, increase awareness of the effects of hunger, and lead programs designed to alleviate hunger.  The Food Bank of Northern Indiana serves Elkhart, Kosciusko, LaPorte, Marshall, Starke and St. Joseph Counties and is a member of Feeding America, Feeding Indiana’s Hungry and United Way.