Tons Of Food Collected During Annual ‘Stamp Out Hunger’ Drive
May 15, 2016
Saturday was the annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive, with letter carriers in Escambia County collecting tons and tons of food to benefit local groups like the Manna Food Pantries.
Manna Food Pantries received 71,120 pounds of food as of Saturday, with several thousand pounds more more expected to trickle in next week. A total of 109 volunteers contributed 440.5 volunteer hours to help Manna sort the food.
Each year the National Association of Letter Carriers holds the “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive, where U.S. Postal Service employees pick up donations of non-perishable food along their routes. In its 23rd year, the annual food drive has grown to be the largest national single-day effort that benefits millions of Americans who struggle to put food on the table.
“This is such an important food drive because it comes at a time when donations are typically low and the need has increased,” said DeDe Flounlacker, Manna Food Pantries’ executive director. “During the school year, many children get a healthy meal through the free or reduced breakfast and lunch programs. During the summer, those programs aren’t available. The donations from Stamp Out Hunger allow us to provide nutritious food to hungry families and children throughout the summer months.”
Pictured: Volunteers, including the Gulf Power Transformers, work to sort local Stamp Out Hunger food drive donations Saturday at the Cantonment Post Office. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
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One Response to “Tons Of Food Collected During Annual ‘Stamp Out Hunger’ Drive”
Could have been more but the letter carrier on Harbour Square Drive did not have the time, or energy to pick up our food and that of numerous neighbors.