Saturday May 14 marks the 30th annual National Association of Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger® Food Drive. Locally, letter carriers across Henderson County will collect non-perishable food donations from households along their daily routes. With the support of community volunteers and United Way of Henderson County, these donations will be distributed to three local food pantries – Interfaith Assistance Ministry, The Salvation Army, and The Storehouse – to provide food to Henderson County residents in need.
“We are so grateful to the Letter Carriers and the community for bringing back this essential effort this year, said Denise Long, Executive Director of United Way Henderson County. “Two years of pandemic restrictions meant the Letter Carriers weren’t able to hold the drive in 2020 or 2021. This year, we’d love to see more donations than ever before.”
Postal customers are asked to leave a box or bag of food by their mailboxes on Saturday for Carriers to collect. Suggested items include canned soups, meats, fish, vegetables, fruits and juices; or boxed goods like cereal, rice, and pasta.
“In the year that ended on March 31, 2022, food costs have risen a staggering 8.8 percent – that’s the largest increase since 1981 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics,” said Elizabeth Willson Moss, Executive Director of Interfaith Assistance Ministry, Henderson County’s largest provider of crisis services. “When you factor in the soaring prices of gas at the pumps and hefty rent increases, the result is a significant increase in the number of families who have become food insecure. Local food pantries are serving hundreds of families and individuals who have become food insecure for the first time.”
Over the course of its 29-year history, the drive has collected well over 1.88 billion pounds of food, thanks to a postal service universal delivery network that spans the entire nation, including Puerto Rico, Guam and U.S. Virgin Islands.
About United Way of Henderson County
United Way is advancing the common good by creating opportunities for a better life in Henderson County. If you would like more information or would like to make a donation, contact United Way of Henderson County at PO Box 487, Hendersonville, NC 28793, 828-692-1636, or visit online at liveunitedhc.org. You can also find UWHC on Facebook.
