Annual mailbox food drive Sat. May 9

[Tanuki]

https://www.nalc.org/community-service/food-drive

"Each year, letter carriers across the country head out on their routes on the second Saturday in May to collect donations of non-perishable food items to benefit local food pantries. Since launching in 1993, the National Association of Letter Carriers’ annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive has grown into the nation’s largest one-day food drive, helping to fill the shelves of food banks in cities and towns throughout the United States.

The need is great, but you can help. We invite you to join letter carriers and our partner organizations in the fight to end hunger in our communities by participating in the annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive.

Simply leave your donation of non-perishable food in a bag near your mailbox on the second Saturday in May, and your letter carrier will do the rest.

NALC branch and Rural Office participation is voluntary. To determine if a NALC Branch covers your area, please use the search tool here. To determine participation, please contact the local NALC Branch or contact your local Post Office."

[hlthe2b]

1. I have mine by the door. I usually try to fill with vacuum-packed fish, meat, peanut butter and other higher

end goods and I hope it gets to those who are really suffering right now.

[bamagal62]

2. Can I include pet food in

My bag? I was going to walk down to petco and donate some food my dog doesn’t like. But, if I can put it with the other food donations, I would rather do that.

[LoisB]

11. From the Stamp Out Hunger page:

"Can I donate pet food, too? The Food Drive is primarily a people-food food drive, but if you also want to give pet food in addition to your regular donation, food banks may be able to distribute or direct it to pet shelters and organizations in the area that have a need."

[bamagal62]

16. Thx!

[irisblue]

3. Thx for the reminder.

I put cans of pet food in last year as well as human food.

[sheshe2]

9. Pet food is a good idea.

I also add toothbrushes and toothpaste to the bags I deliver to the pantries.

[irisblue]

10. Dental & feminine supplies are good ideas

[sheshe2]

14. So is yours for pet food.

It all helps.

I send a bag every week for my sister to take to her church. They collect and deliver to a local food pantry. They hit every local pantry on different weeks.

[Tanuki]

17. Good idea! I bought a multi-pack of toothpaste

the last time I went to Costco and still have a couple of big tubes I can easily add to my bag!

[sheshe2]

23. Excellent.

[ornotna]

4. Thanks for the reminder

[WhiskeyGrinder]

5. If people feel like volunteering, food banks often need help with sorting the big influx of food that day as well.

[Kingofalldems]

6. Kick.

[Deuxcents]

7. A reminder was in my mailbox this afternoon and now this post..glad to participate every time

[Jacson6]

8. Thanks for posting this info. I have a bunch of cans of tuna that I can't eat so they will get it. n/t

[LoisB]

12. Thank you for the reminder.

[oasis]

13. Let's pitch in and do what we can.

[Rhiannon12866]

15. K&R! Thanks so much for the reminder!

[Emile]

18. We have food ready for our rural route mailman.

[Grim Chieftain]

19. I've always left bags of food by the mailbox

but the pick-up is iffy. Several times the food has been left on the porch. Last year, not only was our bag not picked up, but another bag was left next to it. We take it to the post office the following Monday, but it is frustrating.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

21. Some routes don't participate for a variety of reasons. Check with your carrier or post office to see if they're

participating. And if you are going to drop it off, drop it off at your food bank rather than the post office.

[Grim Chieftain]

22. Our house is a very big Victorian right on the corner of Main Street

so it's hard to miss. Great idea about taking the bags to food banks instead. I'll do that this time.

[Omaha Steve]

20. This is our third food drive in a month

We don't mind.

OS

[irisblue]

24. Bump