You probably found a Stamp Out Hunger promotion or two show up in your mailbox this week. This year’s one-day food drive takes place Saturday, May 11, and it’s the perfect opportunity to support your community.
So mark your calendar: It’s time to give back! Not sure how? We’ve got you covered.
This grocery store will have free food for the hungry.
Helping out Is Easy
Since the donations are collected by mail carriers, you barely have to leave the house to do your part. The donation bags are usually delivered to residences through the mailbox a couple of days before the event, giving you just enough time to check your pantry.
Fill up the bag with every nonperishable food item you’d like to donate and leave it in or beside your mailbox. You can fill additional bags, as well, if one isn’t enough. The mail carriers will do the rest, making sure your donations are delivered to a food bank near you.
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Here’s What to Donate
Avoid donating perishables or cold food items, like milk, cheese, eggs or anything else that can go bad while making the trip to food banks. The best items to donate are non-perishables that you’ll find in a box or can. Dry noodles, beans, canned corn and boxed broth are perfect, because these things can be combined for quick and easy meals.
Make sure you’re checking expiration dates as you fill up your bag. Also keep in mind that it’s best to donate cans with a pull tab that don’t require a can opener. For a comprehensive list of items to donate, check out 20 items food banks need the most (and three to skip.)
What Is Stamp Out Hunger?
Now in its 27th year, Stamp Out Hunger is sponsored by the National Association of Letter Carriers. It’s taking place across all 50 states, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands. The one-day food drive always happens the second Saturday of May. This date is strategically chosen, because this is a slow time of year for food banks. Plus, some kids don’t have access to free school meals come summer. Find out more about the food drive, including how you can help in your area, here.
People have donated well over a billion pounds of food via Stamp Out Hunger—last year alone, letter carriers picked up more than 11 million pounds. That’s the number to beat!
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The post Help the Hungry at This Year’s Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive appeared first on Taste of Home.
Laurie Dixon