Stamp Out Hunger this Saturday

Helping your fellow man is as easy as sending a letter this Saturday during the 25th annual Stamp Out Hunger nationwide food drive sponsored by the National Association of Letter Carriers.

Area residents are asked to collect and bag non-perishable food items and hang them on, place inside or beside their mailbox for Madison County letter carriers to pick up. Food will then be distributed to local food banks.

Suggested food item donations include non-perishables such as canned meats, soup, juice, canned vegetables, pasta, cereal, peanut butter and rice, according to Ann Smith, board member of Home Meals Delivery, one of four food drive recipients along with The Salvation Army, God's Outreach and New Liberty Shelter.

Those who prefer can bring donations to the U.S. Post Office on East Water Street in Richmond until 5 p.m. on Saturday, noted local National Association of Letter Carriers union steward/secretary and area Stamp Out Hunger coordinator Randy Wiles.

Additionally, monetary donations can be placed inside an envelope marked “food drive.” Cash will be split amongst the four charitable agencies along with the food items. Checks can be made out to the agency of the donating resident’s choosing, explained Wiles.

After the food is collected, it will be delivered to the Baptist Campus Ministry on Eastern Kentucky University where several volunteers will sort it. Smith said the activity is popular among scouts and youth groups. Anyone from the community is welcome to participate.

In 2015, the drive collected approximately 14,000 pounds of food. Though 2016 saw a little less, Smith said the groups are eager to increase the number of items received.

In fact, Smith said much of Home Meals Delivery’s staples come from the drive.

“(Stamp Out Hunger) is easy for the community to get involved in, all they have to do is get a bag together, and walk to their mailbox, something they do on a daily basis,” said Smith.

After 25 years, Wiles said he feels the charitable food drive is successful because many residents know people that have either been in need of food or who are currently using one of these organizations as a food source.

“Just put yourself in someone else’s shoes,” said Wiles encouraging community participation. “You never know when you might lose your job and be down on your luck and need (help too).”

The National Association of Letter Carriers and the United Food & Commercial Workers International Union have partnered nationally for this event. For more information, visit UFCW.org/StampOutHunger.

Reach Critley King at 624-6623; follow her on Twitter @critleyking.