Nation’s Largest Single-Day Food Drive Collected More than 70.7 Million Pounds of Food Donations Last Year

WHAT: On Saturday, May 11, 2013, the U.S. Postal Service will again join forces with Peoria area letter carriers to Stamp Out Hunger across America, providing assistance to the millions of Americans who are struggling to put food on their tables every day. Now in its 21th year, the Stamp Out Hunger effort is the nation’s largest single-day food drive. In 2012, drive organizers across the country collected more than 70 million pounds of total food donations for the eighth consecutive year.

In addition to the National Association of Letter Carriers, National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association, U.S. Postal Service, Campbell Soup Company, Feeding America, AARP, Valpak, AFL-CIO, United Way, Valassis/RedPlum, GLS Companies, Source Direct Plastics, Public Grocery store chain and Uncle Bob’s Self Storage are supporting the drive this year.

To participate in the Stamp Out Hunger drive, residents are encouraged to leave a sturdy bag containing non-perishable 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, May 11. Local letter carriers will collect these food donations as they deliver the mail and take them to local food banks.

WHY: Despite the generosity of millions of Americans who have supported the letter carriers’ food drive in previous years, the need for food assistance still exists for many families. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s annual study measuring food security in the United States, nearly 50 million Americans, including more than 17 million children, are struggling with hunger.

WHEN: Saturday, May 11, 2013
Along postal routes in the Peoria area

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses, and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.