The community’s largest single-day food drive is back! On Saturday, May 10, residents across the Quad Cities are invited to take part in the 33rd Annual Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive by leaving non-perishable food donations next to their mailboxes for local letter carriers to collect.
This massive community-wide effort is a proud partnership between United Way Quad Cities, the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC), the Quad City Federation of Labor and the River Bend Food Bank, and it provides vital support to local food pantries as they prepare for increased summer demand.
Last year, more than 163,000 meals were collected, enough to feed over 40,000 Quad Cities families. Organizers hope to surpass that total this year with the community’s continued generosity.
“Stamp Out Hunger is a powerful example of what we can accomplish when working people come together for the greater good,” said Amy Fanning, AFL-CIO Community Services Liaison at United Way Quad Cities. “This partnership with our local letter carriers, labor unions and River Bend Food Bank shows our community that solidarity doesn’t stop at the job site—it extends into our neighborhoods to make sure no one goes hungry.”
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.
How to Participate
On May 10:
- Place non-perishable food items like canned vegetables, canned meats, pasta, rice, cereal, peanut butter, and boxed meals in a bag next to your mailbox before your regular mail delivery.
- Please do not donate frozen or refrigerated foods, homemade items, home-canned goods, or anything in glass containers, as these cannot be accepted.
Your letter carrier or a team of community volunteers will pick up your donation and ensure it gets to the River Bend Food Bank.
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.
“This drive is crucial,” said Chris Ford, CEO of River Bend Food Bank. “With kids out of school and families struggling to make ends meet, food donations from Stamp Out Hunger help fill a major gap heading into the summer months. Every can, every box, every bag—makes a real difference.”
“We see the need every day on our routes,” added Ross Thorpe, letter carrier with Moline NALC Branch 318 and Food Drive Coordinator. “Stamp Out Hunger is our way of giving back and making sure no one in our neighborhoods goes hungry. It’s an honor to help connect our community in this way.”
Thank You to Our Sponsors
