Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger® Food Drive – May 9, 2026
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Each year, letter carriers across the country head out on their routes on the second Saturday in May to collect donations of non-perishable food items to benefit local food pantries. Since launching in 1993, the National Association of Letter Carriers’ annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive has grown into the nation’s largest one-day food drive, helping to fill the shelves of food banks in cities and towns throughout the United States.
The need is great, but you can help. We invite you to join letter carriers and our partner organizations in the fight to end hunger in our communities by participating in the annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive.
Simply leave your donation of non-perishable food in a bag near your mailbox on the second Saturday in May, and your
NALC branch and Rural Office participation is voluntary. To determine if a NALC Branch covers your area, please use the search tool here. To determine participation, please contact the local NALC Branch or contact your local Post Office.
NALC branches, rural offices and agencies can use the food drive toolkit below to prepare for the Stamp Out Hunger food drive. The toolkit includes options to order posters and merchandise, as well as a list of regional and state coordinators. More information
So I had my food out and no one picked it up. Same as last year. It’s a shame because I don’t actually think usps has or had any intensions of picking this food up. It’s all for show.
one side of the bag says 2nd Saturday in May (May 9)
the other side of the bag says Weds, May 13
so try again
Hi we left a box of food.on Saturday at 8:00 am . The mailman came by at.his usual time but did not pick up the food . I know he is a “Rehab” , he could have rung the doorbell and I would.have carried the food.to his truck ! What a waste of time. I hope.I can take.the box to the local post office today !
I received the postcard too late. It was in Saturday’s afternoon mail…
I put out a bag of food next to my box and the mailperson did not pick up my donation on Sat May 9th. The mailperson left me a donation bag earlier in the week but they don’t pick up.
Today, March 9, 2026 was the Letters Carriers Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive.
I placed three bags of food items near the mailbox.
Mailed was delivered but no food pickup.
Evelyn Welch
Highland Springs, Virginia
Thanks to USPS for doing these food drives. Just a heads up. There are people driving around, seeing the grocery bags of food sitting by the mailboxes and they are stealing it. If y’all don’t have much food collected, it’s not because good hearted people didn’t leave any food, it’s because some people decided that it was okay to steal from mailboxes.
I put out a large bag of food today and it was never picked up!!!!!!!!!
They took my neighbor’s but left mine. Can we take to the post office?
I put a bag of food out but the mailman didn’t take it.
I put my two bags of food out this morning around 10:00 a.m. well ahead of mail delivery.
About 30 minutes ago, I saw the mail truck was at our mailbox. Once the truck drove off, I went out to the mailbox. The carrier dropped off the mail but did NOT pick up the two bags I had sitting by the mailbox on the driveway right off the curb (due to the water ground). There was no way the carrier could not see the BLUE canvas bags. The carrier would have seen them on the approach to the mailbox. I share the others’ responses. It’s a great program only if there is participation on BOTH sides. I have participated every year but will reconsider for 2027.
Covington, GA.
I put a bag of food out at 6am today (5/9/26) for the mail carrier to pick up, and no one has picked it up. It is now noon and the Tipton, IN post office is closed. Last year, they picked it up before noon. The year before (2024), no one picked it up. If you really want people to participate, I suggest this needs to have better and consistent participation at the local level.
I put a bag full of food and my ‘wonderful’ postman couldn’t be bothered to pick it up. I have always put out food but no more if this the response.
A great service that the USPS is providing every year. Thanks to the carriers for helping get this food to the people who most need it!