MONROE — The National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) invites its customers to join in America’s great day of giving and help “Stamp Out Hunger”. Participating in this year’s Letter Carriers Food Drive, the 32nd annual event, is simple: Just leave a non-perishable food donation in the mailbox on Saturday, May 11 and a letter carrier will pick it up and get to the local food pantry.

Each year on the second Saturday in May, letter carriers from across the country collect non-perishable food donations from its customers. They ask the customers to place food donations in or by their mailboxes that Saturday and a carrier will pick up the food. 

The food that each carrier collects will be donated to the local food bank. Any customers that receive plastic bags in their mail are encouraged to use those bags.

The need for food donations is great. Currently, 1 in 6 Americans are unsure where their next meal is coming from. Children in these household feel hunger’s impact on their overall health and ability to perform in school. Also, nearly 3 million seniors over the age of 65 must deal with hunger as well, with many who live on fixed incomes often too embarrassed to ask for help.

The food drive’s timing is pivotal as well. Food banks and pantries often receive the majority of their donations during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday seasons. By springtime, many pantries’ food supplies are depleted, entering the summer low on food supplies at a time many schools breakfast and lunch programs are not available.