Stamp Out Hunger returning to Jefferson City

Carlos Robinett, of the Samaritan Center in Jefferson City, helps unload food collected during the USPS Letter Carriers Drive in 2018. (News Tribune file photo)
Carlos Robinett, of the Samaritan Center in Jefferson City, helps unload food collected during the USPS Letter Carriers Drive in 2018. (News Tribune file photo)


Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive returns May 14 to Jefferson City.

The National Association of Letter Carriers will host the food drive, which returns for the first time since 2019. Letter carriers first held the event in 1984.

Billed as the country's largest one-day food drive, the event has been held annually on the second Saturday in May in more than 10,000 communities.

"The need is as great as ever, given the pandemic-caused economic dislocations of the past two years," an association news release said. "The traditional food drive is returning this year after a two-year hiatus because of the coronavirus pandemic."

During the interim, organizers replaced the drive with an online donor drive.

Postal customers simply leave their donation of non-perishable food items next to their mailbox before the delivery of the mail on May 14.

"People are encouraged to leave a sturdy bag containing non-perishable foods, such as canned soup, canned vegetables, canned meats and fish, peanut butter, dry beans, dry pasta, dry rice, boxed meal helpers or cereal," the release states. "The food donations stay in each community, going to help local residents."

Letter carriers will collect these food donations on that day as they deliver mail along their postal routes, and distribute donations to local food banks, pantries, shelters and churches.

All food donated in Cole County will go to partner agencies for the Food Bank for Central & Northeast Missouri, said Jami Wade, Food Bank regional coordinator. The Food Bank annually distributes about 30,000 bags of food in Cole County during the event.

In 2017, Jefferson City residents donated 25,147 pounds of food.

The United Way of Central Missouri is asking for volunteers to assist with retrieving, sorting and delivery of food donations locally.

To volunteer, visit unitedway cemo.galaxydigital.com/need/detail/?need_id=684858.

Volunteers are required to be 16 or older, be capable of lifting more than 30 pounds and be able to follow all safety instructions.

Younger children may also participate.

"Children are welcome to assist as runners with the supervision of parents/guardians at all times," according to the site. "We encourage families to serve together for these shifts."