NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – The National Association of Letter Carriers will conduct its 26th annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive on Saturday, May 12.
Stamp Out Hunger is the nation’s largest single-day food drive.
Food banks around the country and throughout the Bay Area rely on postal letter carriers to help replenish depleted food stocks in order to continue to feed needy families.
Last year’s drive resulted in carriers collecting 75.3 million pounds of food from local communities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Since the drive began in 1993, total donations have surpassed 1.6 billion pounds of food.
Making a donation is easy. Customers should leave their nonperishable food donations in a bag near their mailbox on Saturday, May 12, 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.
While all nonperishable donations are welcome, foods that are high in protein such as canned tuna, salmon, beans and peanut butter are most needed.
Canned fruits and vegetables, whole grain, low sugar cereals, macaroni and cheese dinners and 100-percent fruit juice also top the list of most-needed items.
Food drive tips
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.
Letter carriers help feed the hungry with national food drive May 12
- Lake County News reports
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