This Saturday, letter carriers across the country will take part in the 22nd annual ‘Stamp Out Hunger’ food drive. More than 86 food pantries in western New York are expected to benefit from the donations.
Organizers with ‘Stamp Out Hunger’ are asking people to leave canned goods, cereals, or pastas inside or next to their mailbox for the food drive. They’re asking that people abstain from donating glass bottles or jars. USPS Letter Carrier Nicole Marasco says no donation is too small as volunteers will be helping with the pick-up.
“What we say is: ‘It doesn’t matter where you live where your route is that’s your neighborhood.’ We see these faces everyday and over the years I have seen kids go without food. So, when you know that little bit in one day is going to help that same group of people that you see everyday that’s what makes it worth it,” said Marasco.
Food Bank of Western New York Marketing and Development Manger Jennifer Kurzdorfer says this year’s drive is crucial, because the Food Bank is extremely low on canned food.
“Right now the Food Bank is in dire need in order to prepare food and deliver it to member agencies that serve close to 99,000 people in the counties of Erie, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Niagara. We are in desperate need in order to fill the tummy’s of families, individuals, and the close to 42,000 children every month, through the summer and to carry us into the fall,” said Kurzdorfer.
Last year, more than 110,000 pounds of food was collected during the food drive. Kurzdorfer says she’s hoping this year will be an even bigger success.