Above / 32nd Annual Stamp Out Hunger Letter Carriers’ Food Drive is Sat., May 11, 2024. The Naperville collection will benefit families served by Loaves & Fishes Community Services.
The National Association of Letter Carriers and the National Rural Letter Carriers Association will partner with Loaves & Fishes Community Services during the 32nd Annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. Each year, residents are encouraged to place healthy, unexpired, nonperishable items in bags by their mailboxes on Saturday, May 11, 2024, for collection by postal carriers and Loaves & Fishes volunteers.
Last year, the Naperville Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive collected more than 60,000 pounds to support families that visit Loaves & Fishes for grocery assistance. This year, given the significant increase in need for food, they are looking to increase that number to 100,000 pounds.
Stamp Out Hunger is timely as demand for assistance grows
With the nation experiencing a significant rise in the price of food and other basic necessities, the need for assistance continues to grow at a rapid pace. Loaves & Fishes currently serves over 9,000 people a week. The impact of Stamp Out Hunger on Loaves & Fishes is profound, particularly as summer approaches—a time when families grappling with food insecurity face heightened challenges when children are out of school. Traditional food donations slow during this time as the demand for assistance surges.
“The increase in need for food has been dramatic over the past two years. The number of people we are serving has tripled since the beginning of 2022, and unfortunately, our food supply has not been able to keep up with the rapidly rising need.” said Mike Havala, President and CEO of Loaves & Fishes. “We appreciate the work of the National Association of Letter Carriers, the United States Postal Service, and the support of our entire community, as it is critical for us to increase our food supply to help meet the needs of families in our community.”
Public participation welcome and appreciated
They encourage the public to participate in the upcoming food drive, or you can donate directly to the Virtual Food Drive at loaves-fishes.org. Every donation on this day contributes to Stamp Out Hunger.
For more information about the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, visit loaves-fishes.org.
Loaves & Fishes Community Services marks 40 years
Loaves & Fishes Community Services is a registered 501(3) organization serving more than 9,000 people a week by providing healthy food and impactful programs for self-sufficiency. It is the largest food pantry in the state of Illinois. Clients receive a healthy variety of food, including fresh fruits and vegetables, milk, and eggs.
The Loaves & Fishes CARES programs help clients become self-sufficient through opportunities such as emergency assistance for rent or utilities, assistance with public benefits, car donations, tax preparation, job readiness, budget, and credit classes, and Moving Up, a 16-session intensive to help clients overcome barriers preventing them from becoming self-sufficient.
Loaves & Fishes serves DuPage, Will, Kane, and Kendall counties. Loaves & Fishes Grocery Market and administrative offices are located in Naperville, and their Food Distribution Hub is located in Aurora.
For more information, visit loaves-fishes.org.
