May 14 marks the 24th anniversary of National Stamp Out Hunger food drive. Letter carriers and hunger have one thing in common: neither is affected by the season. On Saturday, May 14, letter carriers will collect food as they deliver mail along their postal routes to help people facing hunger this summer.
United Way of Northwest Louisiana encourages the public to help “Stamp Out Hunger” by filling a bag or box with non-perishable food items (canned food, pasta, rice, cereal, etc.) to leave next to their mailbox by 9:00 a.m. for pickup by their local letter carrier.
“Stamp Out Hunger” is a national partnership between National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC), the US Postal Service, United Way, the AFL-CIO, the National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association, Valpak, Valassis and local food pantries. The event is the nation’s largest single-day food drive and involves 175,000 active letter carriers taking donations to local food banks, pantries, and shelters. The Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana and the Food Bank of Central Louisiana will be the recipient of all donated food.
Millions of Americans live in challenging situations, uncertain of where their next meal will come. They are our neighbors, including children and senior citizens visible every day along our routine day. One in five households needing help with food is home to a military veteran. Some heads of households in need have lost a job, are facing the serious medical condition of a family member or dealing with the responsibility of raising grandchildren.
Life can deal ordinary hard working folks very difficult hands- and so often, this food drive makes a positive difference for them. For more information about the annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive, visit www.helpstampouthunger.com or www.facebook.com/StampOutHunger, and follow it at www.twitter.com/StampOutHunger.
About the United Way of Northwest Louisiana
For nearly 100 years, United Way of Northwest Louisiana has improved lives of individuals by creating opportunities for a better life. The organization focuses efforts on specific goals in Education, Income and Health, while continuing to provide a safety net to ensure that the Basic Needs of individuals in crisis are still met. United Way of Northwest Louisiana serves agencies throughout a ten parish region. Each United Way organization operates independently of each other and makes decisions at the local level. For more information on programs supported or about how you can get involved, visit www.unitedwaynwla.org.
About the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC)
The National Association of Letter Carriers is the country’s oldest union, comprised of letter carriers working for the United States Postal Service, founded in 1889. Today, the NALC maintains its tradition as a vibrant union of over 280,000 members, including many retired letter carriers in all 50 states and other U.S. jurisdictions.
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