‘Stamp Out Hunger’ Campaign Returns Saturday

The Stamp Out Hunger campaign returns Saturday, with the National Association of Letter Carriers and  the Postal Service supporting a food drive for the needy, coordinated with Island Harvest Food Bank.

Residents are asked to leave food donations by their mailbox for their letter carrier to collect before their regular mail delivery. All donations collected in Nassau and Suffolk counties will help Island Harvest provide food to more than 300,000 Long Islanders who face hunger and food insecurity.

“Contributing to Stamp Out Hunger is simple,” says Randi Shubin Dresner, president and CEO of Island Harvest. “Just leave nonperishable food items in a bag next to your mailbox before the regularly scheduled mail delivery on Saturday, May 11, 2024. Your USPS letter carrier will do the rest to make sure it gets onto the tables of our Long Islander neighbors in need.”

Nonperishable food items needed include canned goods, cereal, pasta, rice, boxed juices, and shelf-stable milk.  (no food or juices in glass containers). In addition, personal care items such as toothpaste, soap, shampoo, deodorant, and disposable diapers are gratefully accepted. All donations collected will help replenish Island Harvest’s network of food pantries, soup kitchens and other emergency feeding programs in communities throughout Long Island.

“Even if it’s a can of soup or a box of cereal, every donation, no matter the size, will help countless Long Islanders who may be struggling to put food on their tables,” explains Ms. Shubin Dresner, who noted that the food bank distributed 15 million pounds of food in 2022, a 42% increase over 2019 (pre-pandemic levels). “We are counting on the generosity of our neighbors who can spare a little extra to help make this year’s Stamp Out Hunger food drive one of the most successful.”

Since its inception in 1993, Stamp Out Hunger has collected more than 1.75 billion pounds of food in all 50 states, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

“The National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 6000 and the United States Postal Service are excited to once again partner with Island Harvest for this year’s Stamp Out Hunger food collection,” said Tom Siesto, executive vice president, NALC Branch 6000. “The members of Branch 6000 and the employees of the United States Postal Service often see firsthand the widespread issue of food insecurity on Long Island and are thrilled to take part in this very important campaign and give back to the local communities that they serve.”

Op-Ed: Biden Should Consider Presidential Commission on Food Insecurity

St. Philip Neri Volunteers Pack Meals to Fight Global Hunger