FREE ACCESS: Stamp Out Hunger food drive is May 11

On May 11, the National Association of Letter Carriers will hold its annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive.

Each year on the second Saturday in May, letter carriers across the country collect non-perishable food donations from their customers. Locally, these donations go to local food pantries in Poplar Bluff, Dexter, Kennett, Portageville and Doniphan.

Over the course of its 30-year history, the drive has collected over 1.9 billion pounds of food.

In a press release, NALC Branch 1016 stated over 44 million Americans are food insecure, including 13 million children and 5.5 million seniors over age 60.

“Our food drive’s timing is crucial. Food banks and pantries often receive the majority of their donations during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday seasons. By springtime, many pantries are depleted, entering the summer low on supplies at a time when many school breakfast and lunch programs are not available to children in need,” NALC said.

Residents are asked to leave non-perishable food items in a bag by their mailboxes on Saturday, May 11, to be picked up by mail carriers.