This weekend, on Saturday, May 12, the Grand Rapids chapter of the National Association of Letter Carriers will once again host the 26th annual Stamp out Hunger food drive. The food that the mail carriers collect from homes in Grand Rapids will be donated to Feeding America West Michigan and distributed to people in need throughout 40 counties in West Michigan and the Upper Peninsula.
Through its 26-year history, Stamp out Hunger has collected more than 1.5 billion pounds of food for local hunger-relief organizations such as Feeding America West Michigan. Last year, the Grand Rapids letter carriers collected a record 210,000+ pounds of food, which was then distributed to the West Michigan community through the remainder of 2017 and into 2018.
When asked about the annual food drive, Ken Estelle, President and CEO of Feeding America West Michigan, said “We are honored to be a recipient of the food drive for the 26th year.” He continued, “The food collected from nearly 200,000 homes in Grand Rapids makes a tremendous impact on the food that we’re able to distribute to families in our service area who are struggling with hunger.”
To participate in Stamp out Hunger, Grand Rapids residents can fill a bag with nonperishable food items and leave it by their mailbox in time for their normal mail delivery and pick up on Saturday, May 12. In addition to the opportunity to donate non-perishable food items, supporters are also encouraged to consider making a virtual food drive gift online at feedwm.org/stampouthunger.
Every dollar donated to Feeding America West Michigan will provide four meals to food pantries, soup kitchens and other agencies in 40 Michigan counties. The virtual food drive will run through Friday, May 18.
Stamp out Hunger is sponsored in Grand Rapids by Meijer, Fox 17, the National Association of Letter Carriers and the United States Post Office.