Always the second Saturday in May - RAIN OR SHINE!
Check back for more info about the
2025 Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive!
UPDATE, May 22, 2024:
Big appreciation to everyone who donated to the recent NALC Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive!
Hoosier Hills Food Bank shared that more than 36,000 pounds of food -- the equivalent of about 30,149 meals -- was contributed.
THANKS FOR HELPING TO FEED HUNGRY HOOSIERS!
The Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive is the largest, single-day food drive in the nation, and an easy way to make a difference in your community.
On Saturday, May 11, 2024, rain or shine, letter carriers and volunteers will collect bags of healthy, non-perishable donated food people, like you, have set out by their mailboxes. Donations are sorted and taken to local food pantries to feed hungry Hoosiers.
Rain or shine the Stamp Out Hunger food drive goes on!
Event organizers recommend: “If it is raining we encourage people to put their donations in a plastic bag and tie it shut if possible but please don’t let the weather keep you from donating. People with mailboxes by the street or in apartments with pedestal type group mailboxes can also place their donation inside their mailbox."
The Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive is very important to local pantries and neighbors in need.
In the spring, food supplies are typically lower. As schools let out for the summer, the need for additional food is greater since young students don't have access to free or reduced breakfast and lunch programs. And locally, nearly 1 in 5 children are at risk of going hungry.
In our region, 1 in 6 people are at risk of hunger and one-third of these neighbors are not income-eligible for federal nutrition programs. This means they rely more on access to healthy, nutritious food from pantries and kitchens.
In 2022, Hoosier Hills Food Bank distributed over 5.6 million pounds of food, second only to the pandemic record of 7 million pounds in 2020. A record 1.6 million pounds of fresh produce were also distributed through programs and partner agencies in six counties.
Will you help us feed hungry Hoosiers this year?
How You Can Help
Simply fill a box or grocery bag (or two) with healthy, non-perishable food and set it by your mailbox the morning of the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive to be picked up. Each household in our service area should receive a Kroger bag in your mail the week of the drive. Food donations are distributed to the Hoosier Hills Food Bank and other local agencies who then provide the food to hungry Hoosiers.
What to Donate
Most Needed Items
- Canned meat (tuna, chicken, beef stew, etc.)
- Canned fruit
- Canned vegetables
- Juice & juice boxes
- Cereal
Please Do NOT Donate:
- Expired food
- Open packages
- Perishable food
- Glass jars
If you're interested in volunteering or hosting a food drive, please contact the person in your area:
- Lawrence County: Jan Allen, bedford@stampouthungersci.org
- Linton: Mary Ison, linton@stampouthungersci.org
- Monroe County: Hoosier Hills Food Bank: Ryan Jochim, volunteer@hhfoodbank.org
Make a financial contribution to Hoosier Hills Food Bank here.
Major local sponsors & participants:
- NALC Branch 828
- U. S. Postal Service
- NRLCA (rural carriers)
- United Way of South Central Indiana
- Hoosier Hills Food Bank
- Kroger
Additional local participants:
- Lawrence County ARC
- Bedford Lions Club
- Bedford Noon Lions Club
- Fayetteville Community Lions Club
- Mitchell Lions Club
- Southern Indiana Area Labor Federation
National sponsors:
- AFL-CIO
- United Way Worldwide
- CVS Health
For general questions, contact NALC Branch 828 President Joshua Peterson, branch828@stampouthungersci.org
Why Get Involved?
Hear from Jerry Sutherlin, a retired Letter Carrier and Stamp Out Hunger Volunteer, talk about the 2015 food drive on the WFHB Activate program.
Meet Blll Sherman: 25 Years of Stamping Out Hunger (2017)
The crown jewel of Bill Sherman's 37-year career as a postal worker is helping to start the Stamp Out Hunger food drive locally. In the early '90s. Read his story at the link below.
Media Coverage
2019
Letter carriers collect more than 42,000 pounds of food during local Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive (Herald-Times, May 27, 2019)
Community donates pounds of food as part of Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive (Herald-Times, May 11, 2019)
Stamp Out Hunger food drive this Saturday (Herald Times, May 8, 2019)
Stamp Out Hunger sets sights on 55,000 pounds of food in Monroe County (Herald-Times, April 26, 2019)
2018
Easy day to donate food, Help Stamp Out Hunger coming up (Herald-Times, May 8, 2018)
Listen: Joshua Peterson, NALC Branch 828 President on Glass on the Morning (WGCL, May 11, 2018)
Letter carrier food drive Saturday (Herald-Times, May 11, 2018)
Stamp Out Hunger food drive 'not magic,' it takes community (Indiana Daily Student, May 13, 2018)
Letter carriers collect more than 38,000 pounds of food locally (Herald-Times, May 13, 2018)
2017
Retired letter carrier continues food drive legacy (Herald-Times, May 11, 2017)
Mail carriers mark 25 years of action to fight hunger (Herald-Times, Guest Editorial, May 8, 2017)
The local NALC South Central Indiana Branch 828 Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive includes all communities with city delivery in Greene, Lawrence, Monroe, and Owen Counties. It also includes Martinsville, Odon, Orleans, and Paoli. Branch 828 also assists with the Food Drive in additional communities that do not have city delivery.
For general information about the national Stamp Out Hunger efforts and impact visit the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) website at www.nalc.org/community-service/food-drive.