Postal workers ready to collect food donations Saturday for Stamp Out Hunger

Murry Lee
·2 min read

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) – On Saturday, postal workers will collect food donations across the area as part of Stamp Out Hunger.

The event is traditionally held on the second Saturday in May, which falls on May 11 this year.

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USPS Branch 1999 President Daniel Everett said the day is an opportunity for everyone to help Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee by placing their donations out by their mailboxes.

“You can get your kids together, show them how to give, go through your pantries, let them fill the bags with you,” Everett said. “Just put them in plastic paper bags, and set it by your mailbox beside the road. Or if you have your mailbox at the door, set it there and we’ll pick it up for you. You don’t have to go anywhere.”

The USPS has been collecting annual donations for more than 30 years.

“In the 30 years I’ve been delivering, I think this is the biggest need we’ve had for food and all your donations go local,” Everett said. “Second Harvest is a great organization. They come to the post office, pick up all the food and distribute to local people in need. So all your donations stay local, and you’re helping your community.”

Kelsi Faulk, the marketing coordinator for Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee, echoed the need for donations in the area.

“This is a huge day for us, and this is one of our biggest food drives,” Faulk said. “And the need is high right now. About 14% of northeastern Tennesseans are food insecure. So it’s very important that we get these donations to cover the gap.”

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Faulk told News Channel 11 the event wouldn’t be possible without the aid of the postal workers and volunteers.

Everett said the local post office branch makes a fun day out of it by getting breakfast pizzas for letter carriers that morning and getting others involved.

“We fill our truck, more than fill our truck and all the mail trucks come back and there’s an 18-wheeler usually parked at the post office that Second Harvest helps us unload and they fill it up,” he said. “I mean, it’s a big day for us.”

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