31st annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive to take place Saturday

Margaret Christopherson, Lafayette Journal & Courier
Updated ·2 min read

LAFAYETTE, Ind. − The 31st annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive takes place this Saturday, where collecting 50,000 pounds of food is the goal.

Stamp Out Hunger takes place on the second Saturday of May each year across the nation. On May 13, as letter carriers deliver mail, they will collect donations put in or near mailboxes by residents, to give to food banks.

Non-perishable foods such as canned soup, canned vegetables, canned meats and fish, pasta, rice, or cereal, can be placed next to or inside mailboxes before the regular mail delivery on Saturday.

"The Letter Carriers Food Drive is a nationwide event," Kier Crites Muller, CEO of Food Finders Food Bank, said. "However, it's up to our local letter carriers...to choose to participate and host it for our communities. So for that, we're so thankful."

Kier Crites Muller, CEO of Food Finders Food Bank, speaks about the 31st annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. May 12, 2023
Kier Crites Muller, CEO of Food Finders Food Bank, speaks about the 31st annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. May 12, 2023

In Tippecanoe County, 11.3% of the population, which is over 20,000 individuals, do not know where their next meal is coming from, according to a release from FFFB. This statistic includes one in nine children.

Since it began in 1993, the NALC food drive has gathered around 1.75 billion pounds of food. Especially as we move into the spring and summer, food donations are needed more than ever.

"During our last food drive, we collected over 45,000 pounds of food locally," Jeff Chilcott, letter carrier for the South Street post office, said. "...Our food drive's timing is crucial. Food banks and pantries receive the majority of their donations during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday seasons. By spring time, many pantries are (low on supplies)...This is a time where many school breakfast and lunch programs are not available...Participating in this year's food drive is simple. Just leave your food donation in a bag by your mail box and the letter carrier (will take it)."

Jeff Chilcott, letter carrier for the South Street post office, speaks about the 31st annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. May 12, 2023
Jeff Chilcott, letter carrier for the South Street post office, speaks about the 31st annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. May 12, 2023

If you have questions about the drive in your area, ask your letter carrier, contact your local post office, or go to nalc.org/food, facebook.com/StampOutHunger or twitter.com/StampOutHunger.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Non-perishable foods can be left in or near mail boxes Saturday to donate