‘Stamp Out Hunger’ food drive supports the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) - The National Association of Letter Carriers’ annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive collected nonperishable items Saturday, May 9, supporting food access in Central Virginia.

The drive is the largest one-day food drive in the country — as letter carriers deliver cans and shelf-stable items from mailboxes to food banks.

“It really is one of those opportunities for the community to help the community,” said Les Sinclair, communications manager for the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank. “This is where the food drive comes right to your front door.”

The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank has been a beneficiary of the Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger food drive since the 1990s. Sinclair said the national drive has brought in over 2.5 million pounds of food in Central Virginia over its years of operation.

“It happens on one day and it brings in so much food,” Sinclair said. “It really helps us replenish our shelves so that we can make sure that our partners have the food that they need as we head into the summertime.”

Sinclair said each year the letter carriers’ efforts bring in thousands of pounds of food and create thousands of meals for Central Virginia families — providing a boost before summer, when donations slow and the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank continues serving at an all-time high.

“We are now seeing, on average, about 177,000 guest visits every single month,” Sinclair said. “So that number continues to go up, and so food drives like this Stamp Out Hunger food drive really are important.”

For more information on the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, or to make a donation, click here.

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