On Saturday, May 12, Grand Rapids letter carriers departed from seven local Post Office branches to collect food that neighbors donated for the 26th annual Stamp out Hunger food drive. By the end of the day, they had collected more than 113,000 pounds of nonperishable food items, aiding Feeding America West Michigan in their efforts to reduce food insecurity by providing over 94,000 meals for food insecure families.
Bags for the food drive were left in neighbors’ mailboxes earlier in the week, making the process of donating simple. Neighbors filled their bags with nonperishable items and left the bag by their mailbox to be picked up by their letter carrier who then brought it to their postal location, where Feeding America West Michigan staff and volunteers were on site sorting and packing the food into trucks. Feeding America West Michigan will distribute this food to its 900 partner agencies throughout 40 West Michigan counties where food insecure families will receive it.
“The amount of food we receive each year is extraordinary. It truly makes a positive impact on the lives of neighbors in our service area who are struggling with food insecurity,” said Ken Estelle, President and CEO of Feeding America West Michigan. “It’s powerful to watch neighbors support other neighbors,” Estelle continued.
“We are grateful for the letter carriers that help us with this event and for the generosity of our neighbors here in Grand Rapids who inspire us each year to continue doing what we do,” Estelle said.
Neighbors who missed the food drive are encouraged to give a life-saving meal online at feedwm.org/donate.
Stamp Out Hunger is organized by the National Association of Letter Carriers. The event is sponsored in the Grand Rapids area by Meijer, Fox 17, the NALC Branch 56, USPS and the Kent-Ionia Labor Council.
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About Feeding America West Michigan. Serving local families in need since 1981, Feeding America West Michigan reclaims safe surplus food from farmers, manufacturers, distributors and retailers. That food is distributed through a network of more than 900 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and other hunger-relief agencies in 40 counties from the Indiana border through the Upper Peninsula. Each year, an estimated 492,100 people receive food from Feeding America West Michigan. For more information, visit FeedWM.org.