The National Association of Letter Carriers\u2019 annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive returns Saturday, May 9, giving Southwest Florida residents a simple, powerful way to help stock local food pantry shelves at a time of growing need.<\/p>\n
In advance of the drive, letter carriers will deliver specially marked plastic bags to homes, condominiums, and apartments throughout the region. Residents are encouraged to fill the bags with nonperishable, shelf-stable food and leave them by their mailbox for pickup on May 9. Letter carriers will collect donations along their routes and deliver them to local food banks and partner agencies.<\/p>\n
Items most needed include breakfast bars, canned fish or chicken, dry or canned beans, canned vegetables, pasta and pasta sauce, cooking oil, dry milk, peanut butter and jelly, rice, and canned soups.<\/p>\n
The National Association of Letter Carriers launched Stamp Out Hunger in 1993. Since then, the effort has collected nearly 2 billion pounds of food nationwide, making it the largest single-day food drive in the country. In 2025 alone, letter carriers collected more than 48 million pounds of food, with eight million pounds collected just right here in Florida.<\/p>\n
Locally, donations from Stamp Out Hunger help support Harry Chapin Food Bank and its network of more than 170+ agency partners across Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, and Lee counties, serving neighbors experiencing food insecurity.<\/p>\n
More Information<\/p>\n