Fairfield, CT - You’ve got mail! Keep an eye out for a postcard from your letter carrier announcing the annual Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive on Saturday, May 14. In its 24th year, this largest one-day food drive in America is sponsored by the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) and all non-perishable food items donated locally will benefit Operation Hope of Fairfield.
If your letter carrier is participating, place non-perishable food donations next to your mailbox on Saturday, May 14. Your letter carrier will collect the food and deliver it to Operation Hope. Our Food Pantry is in need of: beef stew, brown rice/flavored rice or pasta dishes, canned chicken, canned fruit, Chef Boyardee / spaghetti-o’s, clam chowder, coffee, egg noodles, flour, granola bars and other individual snacks (lunchbox-style), green tea, jelly/jam, ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, oil, salad dressing, sugar, shampoo, tomato sauce and toothpaste.
According to the NALC, last year’s drive collected more than 70 million pounds of non-perishable food and essentials nationwide. The Fairfield Post Office, which includes Southport, collected 253 bins of non-perishable food and essentials last year.
Local letter carriers will deliver food donations to the Bigelow Center for Senior Activities, 10 Mona Terrace, Fairfield. Volunteers will be on hand to collect and sort the donations. William B. Meyer, a provider of transportation, storage and distribution services, has once again generously donated the use of a truck, lock and ramp for the storage and transportation of the food donations to the Food Pantry.
“The Town of Fairfield is proud to support the Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive and provide the space at the Bigelow Center for Senior Activities as the collection point,” said Mike Tetreau, Fairfield’s First Selectman. “More than ever, our local food banks, pantries and shelters need our help. As families count on them for support, Operation Hope is counting on us and together, we must look out for our neighbors in need.”
“We’re seeing an increased usage of our Food Pantry, which means the shelves are emptied faster than we can keep up,” said Kathleen McNamara, Operation Hope Food Pantry Manager. “We are grateful for our local residents for helping area families who are hungry,” she commented. “And remember, if your letter carrier is not participating, Operation Hope needs food all year long. Donations can be made daily.”