Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive Collects 9333 Pounds of Food

The National Association of Letter Carriers held their annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive Saturday, May 11. The event helps local families in need by generating donations for the Food Bank for Central and Northeast Missouri.

Letter carriers previously dropped off blue plastic bags to be used on the 11th as well as envelopes that can be used to donate cash to the food bank.

Participants were urged to donate non-perishable goods by placing them in the blue bags and setting them by their mailbox this past Saturday. The bags were collected and delivered to Open Door and Salvation Army.

Locally, the cost of the bags were provided by Central Bank of Boone County, Champ's Chicken, Liberty Utilities and Central Bank of Sedalia.

Becci Dennis, a full-time city carrier, said she volunteered to organize the effort locally.

She estimated there were 30-40 people who volunteered to help collect the food.

“We appreciate the help, every bit of it,” Dennis said, adding that this is her first year working with the food drive. “I've enjoyed it so far, I'm working out all the kinks, and hopefully next year it will be even better.”

On Monday morning, Dennis reported that a total of 9,333 pounds were collected by the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. She said to make sure and thank the community for their support.

"Thanks to all who participated, volunteered or donated. We especially want to express gratitude to all the letter carriers who gathered donations while on their routes today. We look forward to sharing this year's food drive results soon," the NALC said in a Facebook post on Sunday.

Since launching in 1993, the National Association of Letter Carriers’ annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive has grown into the nation’s largest one-day food drive, helping to fill the shelves of food banks in cities and towns throughout the United States.

In the top photo: Becci Dennis, USPS, and Magen Hudson, Sedalia Salvation Army, coordinate their efforts on Saturday morning at the Sedalia Post Office, where all the goods that were donated and collected, were weighed and distributed.