Stamp Out Hunger

Carriers Deliver Nation’s Largest Food Drive on Saturday

Letter carriers in 10,000 communities across the country, including Upstate New York, are preparing to collect an estimated 70 million pounds of food this Saturday, May 10. 

It’s been 16 years since USPS and the National Association of Letter Carriers launched their annual drive to stock the nation’s food banks and pantries. In that time, letter carriers have collected more than three-quarters of a billion pounds of food from generous Americans. It’s become the world’s largest, single-day charitable food event.

"Many families who have been generous in the past are now in need themselves," noted the Postal Service's Albany District Manager, Margaret Weir. "Our carriers see this change every day and our partners in neighborhood pantries have expressed that the need, right now, is particularly great.

This year’s drive is especially critical. The rising cost of living — especially increases in food prices — has created an economic squeeze for 30 million Americans — including 12 million children — who are at risk of hunger.
Over the years, letter carriers have collected more than three-quarters of a billion pounds of food in the world’s largest, single-day charitable food event.
"This year's collection continues that first class tradition,” Mr. Phelan added. “I believe people are generous because the needs, and the results, are close to home. We just provide the special delivery that makes it possible."

The drive has two national corporate supporters, Campbell Soup Company and Valpak/Cox Target Media, along with Harvest, United Way affiliates, and the AFL-CIO Community Services Network. In addition to donating 1 million cans of soup for nationwide distribution, Campbell is joining the Postal Service to mail 124 million postcards about the drive. Valpak has been promoting the event for the past two months with 44 million direct-mail advertising envelopes featuring the drive.

The Postal Service’s Connecticut District serves more than 3.5 million postal customers over more than 5,000 square miles through 218 post offices and an additional 80 stations and branches.