More than 44 million Americans are unsure where their next meal will come from

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) – Officials with the United States Postal Service (USPS) want to remind you the largest one-day food drive in the nation is coming up this weekend.

Saturday, May 10, will mark the 33rd anniversary of the National Association of Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive.

Letter carriers are in the communities they serve every day and often come face-to-face with a sad reality for far too many: hunger.

Each year on the second Saturday in May, letter carriers across the country collect non-perishable food donations from customers, going directly to local food pantries to provide food to people who need the help.

Currently, more than 44 million Americans are unsure where their next meal will come from; more than 14 million children feel the impact on their overall health and ability to perform in school; and nearly 5.5 million seniors over age 60 are food insecure, with many who live on fixed incomes often too embarrassed to ask for help.

Food banks and pantries often receive most of their donations during the winter holiday season. 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.

Participating is simple. Just leave non-perishable food donations in a bag by your mailbox on Saturday, May 10, and your letter carrier will do the rest.

Throughout its more than 30-year history, the drive has collected more than 1.9 billion pounds of food, thanks to a Postal Service universal delivery network that spans the entire nation, including Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Customers are encouraged to verify food collections with their letter carrier or by entering their delivery ZIP Code here for local NALC Branch coverage in their area. If the search tool does not return any results, please contact your local Post Office or email communityserviceshq@nalc.org.