National Association Of Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive

Saturday, May 10th is one of America’s great days of giving — the National Association of Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger Food drive. Letter carriers walk through their communities every day, often coming face to face with a sad reality for too many, hunger.

On this day of giving, letter carriers across the country collect non-perishable food donations from their customers. These donations will go directly to the Foodbank and to local food pantries to provide food to families in the cities and counties of Hampton, Newport News, Gloucester, Mathews, Williamsburg, Poquoson, Surry, James City and York who need help.

Currently over 61,000 Virginians who reside across the Greater Peninsula are unsure where their next meal is coming from. Twenty thousand are children who feel hunger’s impact on their overall health and ability to perform in school.  And nearly 15,000 seniors over age 60 are food insecure, with many who live on fixed incomes often too embarrassed to ask for help.

We are every day grateful for sharing what you can. Most needed items include: Canned protein (tuna or chicken), Peanut Butter and Jelly, Pasta Meals and Sauces, Hearty Meaty Soups, Canned Fruits and Vegetables, Oatmeal, and Mac and Cheese.

Annually the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank and our partner agencies have over 400,000 visits from our neighbors to receive food assistance.  Food bank’s are an asset to the community and this food drive is critical to help the thousands of children, seniors, veterans and hard-working individuals who struggle daily with food insecurity.

This food drive’s comes at a crucial time when Food banks and 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.

Participating in this year’s Letter Carrier Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive is simple. Just leave a non- perishable food donation in a bag by your mailbox on Saturday, May 10th and your letter carrier will do the rest.

Thank you Delta Sigma Theta Hampton Alumnae Chapter for sponsoring the blue bags that our community will fill to help feed a family.

Thank you to the postal carriers for their efforts and dedication to this food drive, and to our community for sharing a can or two to help provide nourishment to our neighbors in need.

A GROCERY LIST OF MOST NEEDED ITEMS

We prefer high fiber, low sugar, and low sodium. Please, if possible, we prefer no glass containers, dried lentils or dried peas. Standard size containers are encouraged.

Canned Meats (tuna, salmon, chicken, Spam, corned beef)
Canned Fruits (in light syrup or in it’s own juice)
Fruit Cups
Canned vegetables (string beans, butter beans, carrots, squash, peas, potatoes)
Hearty Meaty Soups
Spaghetti Sauce
White & whole grain pasta
Hot and cold cereal, Grits
Peanut butter and Jelly
Instant Potatoes
Brown and White Rice
100% Fruit/Vegetable Juice
1% or 2% Shelf-Stable Milk
Healthy Snacks (Granola Bars)
Canned or Dry Beans (baked, pinto, black, kidney)
Herbs/spices
Condiments (mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, soy sauce, hot sauce & relish)