Letter Carriers’ annual food drive starts Saturday, May 9

ASHEBORO — Saturday, May 9, marks the 34th anniversary of the largest one-day food drive in the nation — 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 too many — hunger. 

Each year on the second Saturday in May, letter carriers across the county collect non-perishable food donations from local customers. These donations go directly to local food pantries to provide food to people in Asheboro, Randleman and Siler City who need help. 

Over the course of its 34-year history, the drive has collected well over 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 US Virgin Islands.

The need is great, but you can help. 

Currently, more than 47 million Americans are unsure where their next meal will come from. More than 13 million are children who feel hunger’s impact on their overall health and ability to perform in school. 

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. 

To make matters worse, food banks and pantries often receive the majority of their donations during the winter holiday seasons. 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. 

That makes this food drive’s timing crucial. 

Participating in this year’s Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive is simple. Just leave non-perishable food donations in a bag by your mailbox on Saturday, May 9, and your letter carrier will do the rest. 

n Kelli Campbell is Food Drive Coordinator for National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 2560

n Asheboro Mayor Joey Trogdon signed a document proclaiming May 9 as the National Association of Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive Day.