N.A.L.C. Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive Slated for Saturday, May 10

32nd NALC Stamp Out Hunger® Food Drive Set for Saturday, May 10 - 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:           32nd NALC 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 the NALC Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive.

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 and Oatmeal
• Macaroni and Cheese
• Boxed Noodles (egg noodles, elbow macaroni, spaghetti)
• Spaghetti Sauce
• Canned Fruit (low sugar is preferred)
• Canned Vegetables (low sodium is preferred)
• Canned Chicken, Tuna, and Spam
• Rice (brown or white)
• Boxed Mashed Potatoes
• 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 National Association of Letter Carriers, National Rural Letter Carriers Association, the United States Postal Service, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), United Way, AFL-CIO, CVSHealth, Valpak, Kellanova, and RRD.

*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 2024 Map the Meal Gap (FY22), 102,680 (18.3%) residents in northern Indiana are food insecure. In St. Joseph County, 38,690 (14.2%) residents are food insecure.

WHEN:           Saturday, May 10, 2025.

If your community is participating in the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, residents will receive a reminder postcard in their mailbox.

During the week of May 5, 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 your mailbox by 8 a.m. If it looks like rain, please use a plastic bag. In St. Joseph County, these donations will be delivered to the Food Bank of Northern Indiana. Please do not include any glass container 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, in St. Joseph County, 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 5, 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.