Chicago, IL — The 26th annual food drive by the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC), will be held on Saturday, May 12.   In Chicago, last year’s food drive total was more than 4 times the amount collected in 2016 reaching 603,597 pounds.  This year, Chicago letter carriers hope to collect one million pounds of food. The food donated stays local, going to pantries in the zipcode area where collected.

Nationwide last year’s Food Drive collected 75 million pounds, the third-highest total in the event’s history.   Combined with the previous year’s record of 80.1 million pounds, that makes a two-year total of 155 million pounds—the highest back-to-back total in the drive’s history.

With the help of sponsors, volunteer organizations and U.S. Postal Service employees in 10,000 communities nationwide, the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) will conduct its 26th annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive on Saturday, May 12. Stamp Out Hunger is the nation’s largest single-day food drive.

Since the drive began in 1993, total donations have surpassed 1.6 billion pounds of food. The food drive has become the nation’s largest one-day campaign to collect food for distribution to needy families.

Making a donation is easy.  Customers should leave their non-perishable food donations in a bag near their mailbox on Saturday, May 12, before their letter carrier arrives.  In the days leading up to the food drive, letter carriers will be delivering special bags along with your mail that may be used to make donations. Food collected during Saturday’s drive will be delivered to local community churches, food banks and food pantries for distribution.

While all non-perishable donations are welcome, foods that are high in protein such as canned tuna, salmon, beans and peanut butter are most needed.  Canned fruits and vegetables, whole grain, low sugar cereals, macaroni and cheese dinners and 100% fruit juice also top the list of most needed items.

Food Drive TIPS

WHAT TO GIVE: Most-wanted foods include:

• Canned meats (tuna, chicken, salmon).
• Canned and boxed meals (soup, chili, stew, macaroni and cheese).
• Canned or dried beans and peas (black, pinto, lentils).
• Pasta, rice cereal.
• Canned fruits.
• 100 percent fruit juice (canned, plastic or boxed).
• Canned vegetables.
• Cooking oil.
• Boxed cooking mixes (pancake, breads).

WHAT NOT TO GIVE:

• Rusty or unlabeled cans.
• Glass containers.
• Perishable items.
• Homemade items.
• No expired items
• Noncommercial canned or packaged items.
• Alcoholic beverages or mixes or soda.
• Open or used items.

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

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