Stamp Out Hunger: The Largest Single-Day Food Drive in America Is Saturday

Since 1993, the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) has collected more than 1 billion pounds of food through its annual event, Stamp Out Hunger, the largest single-day food drive in the U.S.

On Saturday, more than 1,500 NALC branches from every state will have letter carriers collect nonperishable goods from people’s mailboxes, according to a press release.

Residents are asked to leave a sturdy bag or box containing nonperishable foods such as canned soup, canned vegetables, pasta, rice or cereal next to their mailbox prior to the time of regular mail delivery on Saturday.

Here in Encino, your nonperishable food donations will benefit MEND (Meet Each Need With Dignity), the largest poverty-relief agency in the Valley. Located in Pacoima, MEND is working closely with the NALC to coordinate food collection and distribution to local food banks, pantries and shelters. 

MEND serves more than 20,000 meals per month, said Janette Dolabson, the local NALC food drive coordinator.

Last year, local NALC Branch 2462 in Van Nuys collected 103,000 pounds of food during Stamp Out Hunger. That's twice the amount that was collected in 2009, said Dolabson.

Across the country, many have banded together to advertise for the day’s collection. Ralphs supermarkets are underwriting the cost of 750,000 bags that letter carriers will leave in designated neighborhoods to encourage food donations, said Dolabson.

According to the NALC, the need for donations is greater than ever.

“The effects of the recession and unemployment are having a dramatic impact on agencies like ours that help the hungry. That is why events like this are critical,” MEND President Marianne Haver Hill said in a press release.

“The donated food helps fill community food banks and pantries throughout the summer months when donations are at their lowest and the need for food at the highest.”