‘Stamp Out Hunger’: Utah Food Bank, letter carriers team up Saturday for annual food drive

FILE - A letter carrier displays a bag of donated food during the 2019 Stamp Out Hunger food drive | Photo courtesy of Michael Shea, National Association of Letter Carriers, St. George News

ST. GEORGE — Letter carriers will collect food statewide on Saturday to help the 410,000 Utahns facing hunger.

Utah Food Bank asks residents across the state to help “Stamp Out Hunger” by filling the reminder bag they receive with non-perishable food donations and leaving it near their mailbox no later than 9 a.m. on Saturday, according to a news release. Local letter carriers will collect and deliver food donations to Utah Food Bank and its statewide network of 216 partner agencies.

All donations will be distributed to food pantries in the community where the donation is made. After a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, Utah Food Bank and its partner agencies are eagerly anticipating the success of this food drive, the release said.

“Donations received through this food drive come at a crucial time as school gets out and many kids are left without access to school meal programs,” said Ginette Bott, Utah Food Bank president and CEO. “Community support of this effort will truly make a difference in the lives of the 1 in 7 Utah kids who are unsure where their next meal is coming from.

“We are still seeing elevated levels of need due to continued economic fallout from the pandemic in conjunction with record-setting inflation rates.”

Alternatively, donations can be dropped off at local food pantries, Utah Food Bank’s Salt Lake or St. George warehouses or any Harmons location. Donated food should be commercially packaged and non-perishable items with an emphasis on items that are low in sodium, sugar, and corn syrup.

The 30th annual Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive will be Saturday, May 14, 2022 | Photo courtesy of Utah Food Bank, St. George News

Food items most in need include beef stew, chili, peanut butter, boxed meals and canned meats. To encourage participation, reminder postcards and bags will be placed in mailboxes during the week leading up to the food drive.

The 30th annual Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive is sponsored nationally by the National Association of Letter Carriers in conjunction with the National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association and United States Postal Service.

Founded in 1904, Utah Food Bank has operated under various names but remains true to its mission of Fighting Hunger Statewide by providing food to a statewide network of 216 emergency food pantries and agencies. Last fiscal year, Utah Food Bank distributed 70.2 million pounds of food and goods, the equivalent of approximately 58.5 millimeals, to families and individuals in need.

Click here for more information about Utah Food Bank.

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