Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive Day

Well, today is the day that mail carriers across America are going to collect donated food to get delivered to food banks and pantries in our communities. What a great opportunity to help feed the hungry. For more information, visit the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive website.

It's been raining here in Illinois almost daily for the past week. This makes it difficult for a person who doesn't drive to go grocery shopping. Thank goodness there was a break in the weather soon enough to take that two-block walk to the store so I could buy a couple bags of food to donate to my local food bank.

I don't donate or even share the fact that I gave, for recognition. I do it because I know that hunger is a huge problem and it hurts me to think that there are people who will be going to sleep without having had a meal at dinner time. It's very sad but true that not everyone has enough to eat. But it doesn't have to be that way. In reality, there is enough. All we have to do is look inside our hearts and give what we can.

Maybe it's because I've had to go to bed hungry that makes me more sensitive to this issue. My hope is to bring awareness to everyone, including those who have never had to go hungry.

A couple of years ago, neighbor told me that someone had been stealing from her mailbox, so I was concerned that someone driving by my house would see the bags sitting by my mailbox and would steal them. Sometimes I worry too much.

I took the bags out at around 10:30 a.m. and a few minutes before 11 the mail carrier came. Seeing him take the food and knowing where it was going really felt good to me.

I don't know how much food was donated yet, but I'll post the results as soon as I find out.

Please remember:

Tuesday, June 6, 2006 is National Hunger Awareness Day

Here's a way to help feed the hungry across the world:
Just click the Hunger Site link to give free food.

The Hunger Site

Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive

On May 13, the 14th annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive will be conducted by the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) in order to help replenish our nation's food banks and pantries.

To participate, just leave a sturdy bag of nonparishable food items by your mailbox before mail delivery on May 13. Your mail carrier will collect your donation. It will then be taken to the post office and then delivered to local food banks and pantries.

Here is a list of items you can donate:

• Canned soup
• Canned fruits and vegetables
• Canned meats and fish
• Canned juices
• Boxed goods (cereal, etc.)
• Pasta
• Rice

They ask that the donations do not include any items that have expired or that are in glass containers. This information is on a card I received from the post office about the food drive. Very understandable.


Resources:

Stamp Out Hunger
Stamp Out Hunger 2006
NALC Food Drive
America's Second Harvest

Thirty-eight million Americans will be going to bed hungry tonight. I used to be one of them. It can happen to anyone. Let's all donate to help Stamp Out Hunger.

Not all post offices are able to participate in this food drive. Check with your local post office or ask your letter carrier for more information.

If your local post office will not be participating, but you would like to make a cash or food donation or if you are in need of help, find your local food bank or food rescue organization at America's Second Harvest for more information.

How does your country help fight hunger?