Hauppauge, NY - May 2, 2016 - Island Harvest Food Bank and the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) are again joining forces for the 24th-annual Stamp Out Hunger campaign on Saturday, May 14, 2016, as part of the nation’s largest single-day food drive. Postal carriers throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties will collect nonperishable food items left by caring Long Islanders who want to be part of the solution in ending hunger in our communities. All food collected will benefit Island Harvest in providing supplemental food support to the more than 316,000 Long Islanders at risk of going hungry every day.
Participation in the Stamp Out Hunger food drive is simple. Residents are asked to leave nonperishable food items such as canned goods, pasta, rice, boxed juices and shelf-stable milk (please, no glass items) next to their mailboxes before regularly scheduled mail delivery on Saturday, May 14, 2016. The postal carriers will do the rest. Food donated will help replenish food supplies at Long Island’s food pantries, soup kitchens and other feeding programs served by Island Harvest.
“The longstanding partnership we have forged with the NALC, the United States Postal Service, and our corporate partners is making a difference in providing much-needed food to the scores of men, women and children who often don’t know when their next meal will be,” said Randi Shubin Dresner, president and CEO of Island Harvest. “I’m confident that, as in years past, generous Long Islanders will answer the call and leave food donations next to their mailboxes on Saturday, May 14. Every donation, no matter how small, helps Island Harvest serve our neighbors struggling with hunger.”
“The National Association of Letter Carriers is proud to partner with the United States Postal Service and many other local organizations in helping Island Harvest address the critical issue of hunger on Long Island,” said Walter Barton, president, NALC Branch 6000. “As letter carriers we often see the need for food assistance firsthand during the course of our everyday duties. Stamp Out Hunger is our way to give back to the community and help ease the burden for the thousands of our Long Island neighbors who may be struggling with hunger.”
Last year, generous Long Islanders donated 346,000 pounds of food to the Stamp Out Hunger collection event, translating into 288,333 meals to assist food-insecure residents in Nassau and Suffolk. This year’s sponsoring partners of the NALC Stamp Out Hunger collection include Stop & Shop, the United States Postal Service, and the Herald Community Newspapers.
For more information about Stamp Out Hunger, visit here.
About Hunger on Long Island
Hunger is a state in which people do not get enough food to provide the nutrients for active and healthy lives. It can result from the recurrent and involuntary lack of access to food. More than 316,000 Long Islanders face the risk of hunger every day, according to Island Harvest and Feeding America, a national hunger-relief organization. Those facing hunger include adults (often working two jobs), seniors and veterans. Unable to make ends meet, they (and their children) are often forced to go without food. Approximately 70,000 individuals seek food assistance in Nassau and Suffolk counties each week through soup kitchens, food pantries and other feeding programs served by Island Harvest.
About Island Harvest Food Bank
Island Harvest Food Bank is a leading hunger-relief organization that provides food and other resources to people in need. Always treating those it helps with dignity and respect, its goal is to end hunger and reduce food waste on Long Island through efficient food collection and distribution; enhanced hunger-awareness and nutrition-education programs; job training; and direct services targeted at children, senior citizens, veterans and others at risk. Approximately 94 cents of every dollar donated to Island Harvest goes to programs that support more than 316,000 Long Islanders. Island Harvest is a lead agency in the region’s emergency-response preparedness for food and product distribution, and is a member of Feeding America, the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief organization. More information can be found at www.islandharvest.org.