A full bag of donations can provide up to 8 meals and a $10 online donation can feed a family of four.

WHAT
On Saturday, May 8 the largest one-day food drive will reach the Valley when more than 5,000 local city and rural letter carriers collect non-perishable food donations across local neighborhoods. Valley of the Sun United Way urges Valley residents to help fight hunger by donating to the 18th Annual National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive as more individuals and families turn to local food banks for food assistance at time when donations are down. The annual drive provides vital resources to our Valley's major food banks, St. Mary's Food Bank Alliance, St. Vincent de Paul and the United Food Bank. Last year, local letter carrier's collected more than 795,000 pounds to help meet community needs.

Learn more with Food Drive Fast Facts.

WHEN
Saturday, May 8

HOW
It’s easy to help. Local letter carriers bring the food drive to you!

• City and rural letter carriers will deliver grocery bags to residents mailboxes.
• Residents are asked to fill the grocery bag with non-perishable food items and simply place the bag next to their mailbox. A full bag weighing 12 pounds can provide approximately eight meals to someone in need.
• Letter carriers pick up donations while on their regular route. All donations will be delivered to local food banks.
• Residents can donate online at www.stampouthungeraz.org to help. According to the Arizona Association of Food Banks, a $10 donation can feed a family of four for three days. Financial donations enable food banks to leverage resources and purchase food in larger quantities at discounted prices – resulting in more meals for individuals in need.

WHY
Hunger continues to be a vital concern across the state. The economic downturn has Valley residents turning to local food banks for food assistance. A recent survey conducted by Feeding America indicated food banks report surges in food assistance demand is driven by more first-time users and newly unemployed.

WHO
Locally, Valley of the Sun United Way partners with the NALC Local Union 576, the U.S. Postal Service and Labor’s Community Service Agency to inspire Valley residents to fight hunger.

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About the NALC Food Drive and Valley of the Sun United Way
The Letter Carriers’ Food Drive was established in Phoenix by NALC Local Union 576 in 1990. In 1992, the NALC implemented the food drive nationally and has grown to be the nation's largest one-day food drive. Last year, carriers collected a record 73.4 million pounds of food in over 10,000 cities and towns in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. National food drive partners include Feeding America, formerly known as America's Second Harvest, the nation's food bank network, United Way of America and the AFL-CIO. Locally, Valley of the Sun United Way is a strategic partner of the NALC annual food drive and is part of VSUW’s work to end hunger in Maricopa County. Visit www.vsuw.org to learn more.