High Rates of Food-Insecurity Call for Much Needed Community Support

Westmoreland County Food Bank is asking for the community’s support on May 9th as it joins America’s letter carriers and Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization in the annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive. Hosted each year by the National Association of Letter Carriers, Stamp Out Hunger is the largest single-day food drive in the country. The event helps to support local food banks and the one in six Americans who struggle with hunger.

Westmoreland County residents can join the food bank and support community members who struggle with hunger by simply collecting non-perishable food items and leaving them in a sturdy bag near their mailboxes on May 9th. A letter carrier will collect the donations and deliver them to local food banks and pantries, including the Westmoreland County Food Bank. Items will then be distributed to those facing hunger right here at home.

“Stamp Out Hunger is like no other food drive. It allows every community across the country to collectively come together on one day to do their part to fight hunger. We are so grateful to community members who donate non-perishable items and for the letter carriers who take the time to collect each bag to help fight hunger in Westmoreland County,” said Kris Douglas, Chief Executive Officer of the Westmoreland County Food Bank.

According to Feeding America’s recently released Map the Meal Gap 2015 study, 12.2% of the population face food insecurity, including over 4,900 children. Stamp Out Hunger is the opportune time for the public to support neighbors who struggle with hunger.

“Hunger affects every community in the country,” said Fredric Rolando, NALC president. “At least six days a week, our letter carriers are a local touch point in communities everywhere and we are thrilled to be able to support our neighbors in need though the Stamp Out Hunger food drive.”

The Stamp Out Hunger food drive was created in 1993 by the National Association of Letter Carriers to encourage communities to come together in an effort to stock the shelves of food banks and pantries nationwide. The event is held on the second Saturday of May each year. Since the food drive began, Westmoreland County Food Bank and local letter carriers have worked together to contribute to the national food drive. Since 2001, nearly 648,000 pounds of food have been donated to help those in need throughout Westmoreland County.

The Stamp Out Hunger food drive is held in 10,000 cities and towns in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Guam. Last year, letter carriers collected over 70 million pounds of food donations to be donated to their local food bank and pantries.

The United States Postal Service, AFL-CIO, National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association, United Way, Valassis and Valpak are all supporting this year’s Stamp Out Hunger food drive.

For more information about the Westmoreland County Food Bank and how you can help, please contact Volunteer & Food Drive Coordinator, Louise Wilhelm at 724.468.8660 x 13 or email her at louise@westmorelandfoodbank.org. Together, we CAN end hunger here at home.

CONTACT
Jennifer Miller
Development Director
724.468.8660 x 15
jennifer@westmorelandfoodbank.org