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Get Ready to Stamp Out Hunger on Saturday, May 9 With Letter Carriers Food Drive

 

As Saturday, May 9, 2015 draws ever closer, letter carriers in more than 1,200 branches nationwide are moving full steam ahead to get ready for the 23rd annual National Association of Letter Carriers Food Drive. The Stamp Out Hunger drive is the largest one day drive in the nation.

According to Crystal Winebarger, Hunger and Health Coalition’s Director of Operations, “The cost of food and housing are forcing hundreds of local families to visit the Hunger and Health Coalition so they can keep food on the table. As the price of essentials continue to rise, families who never have asked for assistance find that they just can’t make ends meet.

Right now is a critical time for the Hunger and Health Coalition’s Food Pantry. They are preparing for the increased need that typically arrives with summer vacation. Each school aged child home over the summer requires enough food for an additional ten meals a week.

According to Winebarger, “There are many local children who depend on the breakfast and lunch provided at school everyday. Too many children go home to empty cabinets and refrigerators and the situation only worsens during the summer. The foods collected during the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive helps to stock the food pantry over the summer months so that children and families who need food can get help”.

Participating in the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive couldn’t be easier. On Saturday, May 9, simply hang a bag of non-perishable foods on your mailbox or bring your donation to your local Post Office. Letter carriers and postal employees will work with volunteers to collect the food and deliver it to the Food Pantry at the Hunger and Health Coalition.

The HHC is hopeful that 2015 will be the largest collection in local history! If you have questions or need more information, call 828.262.1628 or contact HHC via email at operations@hungerandhealthcoalition.com.

“We are so grateful to our local Letter Carriers for hosting this incredible food drive to help provide nutrition for our neighbors in need,” Executive Director Elizabeth Young said. “There are many local children who depend on the breakfast and lunch provided at school everyday. Too many children go home to empty cabinets and refrigerators and the situation only worsens during the summer. The foods collected during the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive  helps to stock the food pantry over the summer months so that children and families who need food can get help”.

The Hunger and Health Coalition is a private non-profit 501C3 organization established in 1982, and has been actively serving the community for 33 years. Each month, the Hunger and Health Coalition provides an average of 1000 boxes of food which feed 2500 people. One in every three fed is a child under 18 years of age. In addition, over 3500 meals are repackaged and distributed and an average of 1000 life-sustaining prescriptions are dispensed through the HHC’s Pharmacy. The Hunger and Health Coalition is a member of the High Country United Way.

For frequently asked questions about this food drive, click here.