United Way Quad Cities, the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC), Quad City Federation of Labor (QCFL) and U.S. Postal Service locations partner to benefit River Bend Food Bank.
On Saturday, May 9, residents across the Quad Cities will have a simple and impactful way to help fight hunger right from their own mailboxes.
The Quad Cities Federation of Labor is partnering with the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) and multiple U.S. Postal Service locations across the Quad Cities for the annual Stamp Out Hunger® Food Drive. Stamp Out Hunger is the nation’s largest one-day food collection effort to benefit River Bend Food Bank and the thousands of families it serves across the region.
“This partnership is a perfect example of how volunteers, unions, letter carriers, River Bend Food Bank, and our entire community come together to turn small acts of generosity into something powerful for families who need it most,” said Daniel Gosa, President of the Quad City Federation of Labor.
How to Participate
Here’s how easy it is to help strengthen the health and stability of families across our community through Stamp Out Hunger on May 9:
- Watch for a donation bag right in your mailbox
- Simply fill it with non-perishable food items
- Leave it out before mail delivery on Saturday, May 9 so letter carriers and volunteers can collect items along their routes
- Didn’t get a bag? No problem. Any grocery bag will do.
- You can also drop-off donations at your local post office
Donations collected during the drive will help stock shelves at local food pantries and support River Bend Food Bank’s work to address food insecurity across eastern Iowa and western Illinois.
“The need in our community is significant,” said Jenny Colvin, Vice President of River Bend Food Bank. “More than 150,000 individuals across our service area rely on SNAP, and we’re seeing a four-year high in food insecurity at 13%. As costs rise and benefits shift, more working families are turning to food assistance to make ends meet.”
Some of the top requested food items are cereal, pasta, rice, canned fruits and vegetables and soups.
No frozen food, homemade food, home-canned items or items in glass containers can be accepted.
“This is the largest one-day drive in the country, and one of the most meaningful days of the year for our letter carriers”, said Jim Rangel Jr., Letter Carrier, NALC Branch 292 in Rock Island.
“We see firsthand the generosity of our communities, and we’re proud to help connect those donations to families who need them.”
Volunteer Opportunities
In addition to donating food, volunteers are needed to help collect donations along delivery routes, and unload and pack boxes of food at area post offices.
Thank You to Our 2026 Partners
