Get ready to stamp out hunger. Since 1993, the National Association of Letter Carriers has been hosting its nationwide "Stamp Out Hunger" food drive. And on May 10, they're getting ready to do it again.
Food drive coordinator Steve Camacho and Harry Chapin Food Bank Chief Development Officer Ann Prifrel joined Gulf Coast News to explain how you can help in Southwest Florida.
"Stamp Out Hunger" is considered the nation's largest single-day food drive. Nationwide, letter carriers have collected 1.9 billion pounds of food to help replenish the shelves of community food banks. In Southwest Florida, most of the donations over the years have supported Harry Chapin Food Bank.
Every month, Harry Chapin Food Bank provides food to 250,000 neighbors across Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee counties. In 2024, Harry Chapin Food Bank distributed 39.5 million pounds of food, equivalent to 32 million meals.
On Saturday, May 10, anyone in Southwest Florida can place a bag of food by their mailbox, and their letter carrier will pick it up. Letter carriers are distributing empty bags to many homes on their routes in advance of the food drive. If you don’t receive a plastic bag, just use any empty bag from Publix or Walmart. Letter carriers will bring donations to central collection spots, where dozens of volunteers will sort items and bring them to Harry Chapin Food Bank and other local organizations.
The donations in highest demand are shelf-stable, nonperishable food items. Items like breakfast bars, canned fish or chicken, pasta and pasta sauces, dry milk, rice and canned soup.
For more information, visit the National Association of Letter Carriers’ website .
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