On Saturday, May 11th, letter carriers will collect food statewide to help the 382,000 Utahns facing hunger. Utah Food Bank asks residents across the state to help “Stamp Out Hunger” by filling the reminder bag with non-perishable food donations and leaving it near the residence’s mailbox by 9:00 a.m. on May 11th. Local letter carriers will collect and deliver food donations to Utah Food Bank and its statewide network of 150 partner agencies. All donations will be distributed to food pantries located in the community where the donation is made.
Alternatively, donations can be dropped off at local food pantries, Utah Food Bank’s Salt Lake or St. George warehouses or any Harmons location. Donated food should be commercially packaged and non-perishable items with an emphasis on items that are low in sodium, sugar, and corn syrup. Most needed food items include beef stew, chili, peanut butter, boxed meals and canned meats. To encourage participation, reminder postcards and bags will be placed in mailboxes during the week leading up to the food drive.
“Donations received through this food drive come at a crucial time as school gets out and many kids are left without access to school meal programs,” said Ginette Bott, Utah Food Bank President & CEO. “Community support of this effort will truly make a difference in the lives of the 1 in 7 Utah kids who are unsure where their next meal is coming from.”
The 27th annual Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive is sponsored nationally by the National Association of Letter Carriers in conjunction with the National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association and United States Postal Service. In Utah and across the nation, this food drive has emerged as one of the largest single-day food drives, resulting in close to 72 million pounds of food nationally last year.
About Utah Food Bank
Founded in 1904, Utah Food Bank has operated under various names but remains true to its mission of Fighting Hunger Statewide by providing food to a statewide network of 150 emergency food pantries and agencies. Last fiscal year, Utah Food Bank distributed 43.3 million pounds of food and goods, the equivalent of approximately 36.1 million meals, to families and individuals in need. For more information about
Utah Food Bank, visit www.utahfoodbank.org <file://UFBFS04/HOME/DATA/DEVELOPMENT/Events/Development%20Events/Utah%20Human%20Race/2013/Media/www.utahfoodbank.org>.
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