In May 2011, the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) National Food Drive collected 70.2 million pounds of food in one day - the eighth consecutive year above 70 million - for individuals and families in need throughout the United States and delivered the donations to local community food banks, pantries, and shelters. Almost 1,500 NALC local branches participated in the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, the nation’s largest single-day food drive which developed as a direct result of partnerships and efforts throughout our communities. The 300,000-member National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC), which represents city delivery letter carriers in all 50 states and U.S. jurisdictions, conducts this one-day food drive each year on the second Saturday in May.
The effort began in 1991 when the NALC, with the support of the U.S. Postal Service and the AFL-CIO, conducted a 10-city pilot program as a "first step" in developing a coordinated, same-day nationwide food drive. Over 290 tons of food was collected in those 10 cities. The drive was not held in 1992 as plans were being developed to expand the effort nationwide.
In 1993, the drive expanded to 200 NALC branches in all 50 states, covering more than 1,000 communities. A record 12 million pounds (6,000 tons) of non-perishable food donations were collected by city carriers, with help from their rural carrier counterparts in many communities.
The NALC, through Linda Giordano, Community Services Coordinator of the drive and a long-time United Way volunteer, invited United Way Worldwide (UWW) to become a full partner in this endeavor in 1994. United Way accepted.
The drive has continued to flourish ever since, expanding the number of cities and towns involved to over 10,000 communities.
The simplicity and efficiency of the drive are what makes it work: It is held annually on the second Saturday in May; it's promoted via flyers, press conferences, various media, etc.; donations are collected in participating communities by letter carriers along their mail routes (except in New York City and Chicago where donations are received at post offices), and it comes at a time when most food banks have depleted the donations received in end-of-the-year holiday drives.
United Way is pleased to announce that it will continue to partner with the NALC National Food Drive in 2012. On Saturday, May 12, 2012, Campbell Soup Company and United Way will join forces once again with the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) to help Stamp Out Hunger across America. Now in its 20th year, the annual food drive has grown from a regional to a national effort that provides assistance to the millions of Americans struggling to put food on the table.
This year, Nick Cannon, multi-talented entertainer and member of the Feeding America Entertainment Council is the national spokesperson for the Stamp Out Hunger food drive for the second year in a row. The drive particularly hits home for Cannon, who experienced hunger and visited food pantries as a child. Cannon will promote the drive on television and radio, as well as in print and social media to encourage even greater participation and donations.
To participate in the Stamp Out Hunger food drive in Bowling Green, Morgantown, Glasgow, Franklin, Cave City, and Scottsville this year, leave a sturdy bag containing non-perishable food items such as canned soup, canned vegetables, pasta, rice or cereal next to the mailbox prior to the regular mail delivery time on Saturday, May 12th. Bowling Green, Morgantown, Glasgow, Franklin, Cave City, and Scottsville active letter carriers, along with rural letter carriers, will collect these food donations as they deliver the mail. United Way of Southern Kentucky is helping coordinate the distribution of the collected food that will go to local food banks and pantries. This year local organizations receiving the donated food will be The Presbyterian Church, The International Center, Calvary Care Center, State Street Baptist Church, Warren Central Youth Service Center, Community Action, Faith United Methodist Church, First Christian Church, St. Vincent de Paul (Holy Spirit), Life Care Ministries, St. Vincent de Paul ( St. Joseph), Hotel Inc., Hillvue Heights, Hope House, and The Salvation Army.
Director of Resource Development for United Way of Southern Kentucky, Daniel Moran says, “It is a pleasure to work with so many dedicated staff and volunteers from all the agencies. They come together on collection day to divide and sort all the donated food to restock their food panties. The service they provide to our community is greatly needed and does not go unnoticed. We are also very grateful to the letter carriers who make this food drive possible.”
“We’re incredibly excited for the 20th anniversary of the Stamp Out Hunger food drive,” said Fredric V. Rolando, NALC president. “We’re asking people across the country for their support to make this year’s drive the most successful in its 20 year history. It’s so easy to make a donation: simply leave a bag of non-perishable food by your mailbox to help neighbors in need. That’s all it takes.”
Campbell Soup Company and its partners are producing post cards and shopping bags that will be delivered to more than 90 million homes across the country as a reminder to participate in the drive. In addition, Campbell will again support this year’s food collection effort by donating one million pounds of food to Feeding America. “Campbell is committed to the success of the Stamp Out Hunger food drive and we encourage everyone to participate,” said Denise Morrison, Campbell Soup Company’s president and chief executive officer. “It’s unfortunate that millions of Americans, especially our children, continue to go hungry in a country as bountiful as ours. We believe that, with the help and generosity of those who are able, we can provide much needed support for our community members in need.”
The need for food assistance continues to exist in every community in America, no matter how rich or poor. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s annual study measuring food security in the United States, the number of Americans living in food insecure homes reached nearly 49 million in 2011 (the most recent year that such data is available). Perhaps most alarming is the fact that more than 16 million children in America - more than 1 in 5 - are faced with the prospect of hunger.
For more information about the annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive, visit
www.helpstampouthunger.com or www.facebook.com/StampOutHunger , and follow the drive at
www.twitter.com/StampOutHunger.
