National Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive Day
The National Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive is America’s largest single-day food collection effort, where letter carriers collect non-perishable food donations along their mail routes to help fight hunger in local communities.
Quick Facts
When is it: Second Saturday in May
Tagged as: Nation’s largest single-day food drive
What’s the hashtag: #StampOutHungerFoodDrive
When was it founded: October 1991 (pilot program)
Who founded it: National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC)
History of Stamp Out Hunger
What started as a pilot program in 10 cities has grown into a nationwide movement. After successful trials, the NALC moved the event to May when food banks typically experience depleted donations following the holiday season. The first nationwide drive in 1993 collected over 11 million pounds of food, with more than 220 union branches participating across all 50 states.
Timeline
- 1991: Pilot program launches in 10 cities
- 1993: First national food drive collects 11 million pounds
- 2010: Surpassed 1 billion pounds collected
- 2016: Record-breaking 80 million pounds collected
- 2020-2021: Drive paused due to COVID-19
- 2024: Returns for 32nd annual drive
Dates by Next Year
| Year | Month and Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | May 10 | Saturday |
| 2026 | May 9 | Saturday |
| 2027 | May 8 | Saturday |
| 2028 | May 13 | Saturday |
| 2029 | May 12 | Saturday |
| 2030 | May 11 | Saturday |
How It’s Observed
Letter carriers collect non-perishable food donations left by mailboxes while delivering mail in over 10,000 cities across America. The collected food is distributed to local food banks and pantries, ensuring donations stay within the community they’re collected from.
Fun Facts About Stamp Out Hunger
- Operates in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Guam, and Virgin Islands
- Has collected over 1.9 billion pounds of food since inception
- Involves over 277,000 letter carriers
- Actor Edward James Olmos serves as national spokesperson
- Received two Presidential Certificates of Achievement
Quiz
- What month is the food drive held?
- How many cities participate?
- Who collects the donations?
- What year did the national drive begin?
(Answers: May, Over 10,000, Letter Carriers, 1993)
FAQs
- When should I put out food? Before 9 AM on collection day
- What food can I donate? Non-perishable items in non-breakable containers
- Are donations tax-deductible? Yes, as they go directly to non-profit food agencies
- What if I have a P.O. Box? Drop donations at your local post office
Related
- World Food Day
- National Food Bank Day
- Feeding America
- National Hunger Awareness Month
- Give Food Day