On Saturday, May 13th, letter carriers will collect food statewide to help the 289,000 Utahns facing hunger. Utah Food Bank asks residents across the state to help “Stamp Out Hunger” by filling the blue reminder bag with non-perishable food and leaving it near their mailbox no later than 9:00 a.m. on May 13th. 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 located in the community where the donation is made. With inflation causing increased need, Utah Food Bank and their partner agencies are eagerly anticipating the success of this food drive.
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, non-perishable items with an emphasis on items that are low in sodium, sugar, and corn syrup. Most needed food items include beef stew, chili, peanut butter, boxed meals and canned meats. To encourage participation, reminder postcards and bags will be placed in mailboxes this week. Utah Food Bank is also in critical need of volunteers to help sort food on Saturday, May 13th from 1:00-5:00 p.m. at various post offices in the Salt Lake valley. If you are interested, please contact Utah Food Bank’s volunteer department at 801-887-1234 or email [email protected].
“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 & CEO. “Community support of this effort will truly make a difference in the lives of the 1 in 9 Utah kids who are unsure where their next meal is coming from. We are still experiencing elevated levels of need in line with what we saw during the height of the pandemic, thanks to inflation creating tighter food budgets for Utahns.”
The 31tst 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. For further information, visit UtahFoodBank.org.
