Stamp Out Hunger on Saturday - Nation's Largest Single-Day Food Drive | News

HELP POSTAL WORKERS STAMP OUT HUNGER ON MAY 12

Nation’s Largest Single-Day Food Drive Collected 70.2 Million Pounds of Food Last Year

WATSONVILLE, CA, MAY 8, 2012 ― On Saturday, May 12, 2012, Second Harvest Food Bank will join forces with the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) to help Stamp Out Hunger in Santa Cruz County.  Now in its 20th year, the annual food drive has grown from a regional to a national effort that provides assistance to the millions of Americans struggling to put food on the table. In 2011, generous Americans donated 70.2 million pounds of food, which marked the eighth consecutive year that at least 70 million pounds were collected by letter carriers.

“In 2011 our county alone raised over 42,000 pounds of food during Stamp Out Hunger and we’re asking everyone to pitch in to make this year an even greater success,” said Danny Keith, Chief Development & Technology Officer of Second Harvest Food Bank. “It’s so easy to make a donation: simply leave a bag of non-perishable food by your mailbox to help neighbors in need. That’s all it takes,” said Fredric V. Rolando, NALC president.

The need for food assistance continues to exist in every community in America, no matter how rich or poor. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s annual study measuring food security in the United States, the number of Americans living in food insecure homes reached nearly 49 million in 2011. Perhaps most alarming is the fact that more than 16 million children in America - more than 1 in 5 - are faced with the prospect of hunger. Here in Santa Cruz County the number is 1 in 4.

Campbell Soup Company and its partners are producing post cards and shopping bags that will be delivered to more than 90 million homes across the country as a reminder to participate in the drive. In addition, Campbell will again support this year’s food collection effort by donating one million pounds of food to be distributed nationally.

To participate in the 20th Stamp Out Hunger food drive in Santa Cruz County, 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 12. Local letter carriers will collect these food donations as they deliver the mail and get them to Second Harvest Food Bank who will distribute the food locally.

Members of the press are invited to join local postal workers in kicking off the event on Thursday, May 10 at 9:30 a.m. at the Watsonville Post Office, located at 225 Main Street.

            For more information about the annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive in Santa Cruz County, visit www.helpstampouthunger.com or www.facebook.com/StampOutHunger, and follow the drive at www.twitter.com/StampOutHunger.