Carthage Crosslines Ministry leads effort in Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive
CARTHAGE, Mo. — A unique one-day initiative to help food insecure communities through their mailboxes returned, today.
Thousands of communities across the country took part in the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive.
Locally – members of the Carthage Crosslines Ministry spent the day gathering and weighing non-perishable items that were picked up by USPS employees in residents’ mailboxes that will be dispersed within the organization.
It’s a collaboration between the United States Postal Service and the National Association of Letter Carriers to help feed food-insecure communities – one mailbox at a time.
Crosslines officials say the program is a big help when it comes to filling their pantries up.
They currently serve on average of 500 people each month.
The goal is to get anywhere from 1,500 to 5,000 pounds of food – today.
“Of course, we’d all like to end hunger, but we can at least reduce it, you know, and every one of us probably has a can or two extra things in their cupboards. And so, just being able to share that, that means someone else has at least that for that meal,” said Toni Smith, Carthage Crosslines Ministry Executive Director.
This year marks the 32nd anniversary for the Stamp Out Hunger initiative – which is observed on the second Saturday in May.
