SIKESTON – Stamp Out Hunger, the nation’s largest one-day food drive returns Saturday, May 14, collecting items for Southeast Missouri Food Bank.
For 31 years, the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) has conducted an annual nationwide food drive, collecting non-perishable food donations along postal routes.
“Carriers are excited for this year’s food drive,” said Kraig Shafer, NALC food drive coordinator for branch 1015, which covers several communities in southeast Missouri, including Cape Girardeau, Jackson and Perryville. “We know the need of the communities we live in. We know everyone is struggling, and we hope that Stamp Out Hunger is able to help the people who need it. We hope our communities really show that level of giving.”
People may participate by placing non-perishable foods in a sturdy container next to their mailbox by 8 a.m. Saturday, May 13. Shafer said special bags, sponsored by Edge Realty of Cape Girardeau, will be distributed the week before the food drive. If someone doesn’t receive a bag, any bag or box will do. Items like canned soup or stew and canned meats such as chicken or tuna are popular choices. Food will still be picked up if it rains. Southeast Missouri Food Bank will pick up donated items from the post office and distribute food within the community where it was collected.
“Stamp Out Hunger is one of our biggest food drive of the year, and it’s always gratifying to see how much the community supports it,” said Joey Keys, chief executive officer of SEMO Food Bank. “People are still struggling with higher prices at the grocery store and needing assistance to keep food on the table. Food from Stamp Out Hunger will be distributed in the community where it is collected, so this is a great, and easy, way to help your neighbors.”
The 31st Annual Stamp Out Hunger effort is the nation’s largest, single-day food drive. It occurs at a key time when schools are letting out for the summer and many parents have additional expenses with child care and providing all meals for their children. In southeast Missouri, hunger affects one in five children, one in six families and one in eight senior citizens. Food drives like Stamp Out Hunger help provide relief and are a key tool in the fight against hunger.
For more information about the annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive, ask your letter carrier, contact your local post office, visit either stampouthungerfooddrive.us or facebook.com/StampOutHunger/, or follow the drive on Twitter at twitter.com/StampOutHunger
About Southeast Missouri Food Bank
Southeast Missouri Food Bank provides food to 140 food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters in 16 southeast Missouri counties. They include Bollinger, Butler, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Dunklin, Madison, Mississippi, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Perry, Reynolds, Ripley, Scott, Ste. Genevieve, Stoddard, and Wayne counties. The food bank also provides mobile food distributions, monthly boxes of food to eligible seniors and weekend backpacks of food to 1,200 in 30 school districts. The mission of Southeast Missouri Food Bank is to end hunger and leverage the power of food to build a healthy community. The food bank is affiliated with Feeding America, the nation’s largest food bank network, and has received the highest possible rating from Charity Navigator, attesting to its adherence to best practices. Those interested in helping can do so by making a tax-deductible contribution, donating food, or volunteering. Visit semofoodbank.org for more information.