Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive is Saturday

The 27th Annual Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive is on Saturday, May 11, 2019.

In Bolingbrook (on the second Saturday of May) residents are encouraged to set out non-perishable food well before your letter carrier’s normal pick-up time. The earlier the better! Note that he or she will be delivering and collecting mail as usual, on top of collecting food donations, so that pickup time could be slightly later than usual. Your letter carrier might also have helpers. A good rule of thumb is to have the bags by your mailbox by 9:00 a.m on Saturday.

Do I need to use a special bag? No! No special bags are needed. Paper is sturdy and tends to hold more food, while plastic holds up better if it gets wet (in the rain, etc.). Cloth bags or boxes are also fine. So it’s your choice. And most bags and boxes can be easily recycled. Your letter carrier will gladly take anything you leave out!

Does my food donation stay local? Yes—all food stays in our local community. Specifically, local donations will go to the DuPage Township Food Pantry. It’s not shipped off to some regional distribution center hundreds of miles away.

Is there anything I shouldn’t donate? Please do not donate frozen food, homemade food or home-canned items. Please do not donate items that have expired or are in glass containers. In keeping with good food-handling and food-safety procedures, food that is opened, damaged, out of code or does not have the official ingredients included will be discarded by the food bank in the sorting process.

Article Submitted By Michael Carpanzano, Volunteer Bolingbrook Patch Mayor