WE NEED YOUR HELP TO MAKE SATURDAY, MAY 13TH THE MOST SUCCESSFUL STAMP OUT HUNGER EVER
Our United Way is once again working with local postal carriers with the Stamp Out Hunger food drive to support area food panties. Now in its 25th year, the Stamp Out Hunger effort is the nation's largest single-day food drive. In 2016, nearly 160,000 pounds of food was collected for local Chippewa and Eau Claire food panties. The 2016 national drive collected a record 80 million pounds of food, well above the previous record of 77 million pounds. These donated nonperishable food items are desperately needed during this time of year in order for pantries to restock before the increased summer demand due to school meal programs no longer being available for children.
Unfortunately, despite the generosity of millions of Americans who have supported the letter carriers' food drive in previous years, the need for food assistance has never been greater. According to the National Association of Letter Carriers, the availability of nutritionally adequate and safe food is limited or uncertain for 1 in 6 Americans.
THREE IMPORTANT WAYS YOU CAN HELP
- Donate nonperishable food items to be picked up at your home on Saturday, May 13th.
- Start a Stamp Out Hunger food drive at your workplace.
- Volunteer on Saturday, May 13th to pick up and sort donated food items.
Donating Food Items on Saturday, May 13th
Our letter carriers make it easy to donate! Before the day, you will receive a bag in your mailbox to fill with food items. Simply hang the bag from your mailbox or put next to your mailbox on Saturday morning before your normal mail arrives, and postal carriers and volunteers will collect. Donated food should be nonperishable (canned or dry goods) in non-glass containers. Items such as canned foods and juices, pasta, rice and cereal are suggested. These items will be delivered to our local food pantries to help area residents.
Have a Stamp Out Hunger food drive at your workplace
A great way to help those in need AND the post office is to run a food drive at your workplace before Stamp Out Hunger. A team activity like this can generate more items donated, and takes the burden off letter carriers and volunteers during Stamp Out Hunger by allowing them to collect the food the Friday before. It's a fun way for your entire team of employees to feel great about helping out and seeing what you can accomplish together. Click the button below if you would like to run a campaign at your workplace.
Volunteer During Stamp Out Hunger
Volunteering for Stamp Out Hunger is an enjoyable way to make a big difference and help to make this day a success. Our letter carriers need as much help as they can get collecting food items in Chippewa Falls and Eau Claire neighborhoods. Typically, this involves driving around postal carrier routes collecting food items and bringing them to dropoff locations.
Volunteers will be needed starting at 9:00 A.M. until Noon (volunteers welcome to stay later). A drivers license is required for most volunteer roles. These volunteer opportunities involve some physical activity and lifting up to 35 pounds. We are looking for volunteers age 12 and older, with adult supervision for those under 16. Those interested in volunteering should click the button below or call 715.834-5043.