Put non-perishables in a bag by your mailbox on May 11 and they’ll be delivered to River Bend Foodbank

BETTENDORF, IOWA (May 3, 2019) — United Way of the Quad Cities is proud to partner once again with the National Association of Letter Carriers as part of the nation’s largest, one-day Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. This unique partnership is set to gather non-perishable food-donations for the local River Bend Foodbank during the 27th annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive.

“It is an honor and a privilege for our United Way to join with our partners in organized labor to address our broader mission to help all Quad Citizens live their best possible life,” said Rene Gellerman, President and CEO, United Way of the Quad Cities.

On May 11, Quad Citizens are asked to leave a donation of non-perishable food-items next to their mailboxes before the delivery of the mail. Letter-carriers will collect the bags and food-donations as they deliver mail along their postal routes. The donations stay in the community and are given to local pantries and shelters for those in need.

“One in eight households face food insecurity in the US, and on a local level, one out of three families in the Quad Cities can barely cover basic daily living expenses,” Gellerman said. “The Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive is a great way to easily support your fellow Quad Citizens. The donations stay in our community, so we can continue to improve the Quad Cities as a whole.”  

“This one day a year, anyone in the country can go through their cupboards, pull any non-perishable food item, leave it at their mailbox, and it will be picked up and taken to someone who really needs it,” said Michael Miller, President and CEO of River Bend Foodbank. “Many thanks to the Letter Carriers who lift a whole lot more than the mail usually weighs on this day to make it possible.”

Last year, letter-carriers collected 71.6 million pounds of food. Over the past 26 years, the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive has raised 1.67 billion pounds of food.

“We’re proud to have Quad Cities letter-carriers participating once again. Our local NALC branches value the long-time partnership with United Way, who provides support in the planning and execution of the food-drive. Letter Carriers will soon be delivering grocery bags, provided by HyVee, for customers to fill with non-perishable items,” said Tracey Bultinck, City Letter Carrier and Food Drive Coordinator. “We all participate to give back to our community. It’s really amazing to see the effort everyone puts in to help those who need a hand to feed their families.”

The top requested non-perishable food items are cereal, pasta, pasta sauce or spaghetti sauce, rice, canned fruits and vegetables, canned meals (such as soups, chili, and pasta), 100% juice, peanut butter, macaroni and cheese, canned protein (tuna, chicken, and turkey), and beans (canned or dry). Those who are donating can also donate healthy, low-sodium, low-sugar items such as beans, oatmeal and other whole grains, and canola or olive oil.

No frozen-food, homemade-food, home-canned items, items in glass containers, or expired food will be accepted.  

To find out if your letter-carrier is participating, please visit your local post office.

For more information about the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, visit https://www.unitedwayqc.org/nalc-stamp-out-hunger-food-drive.

 

About United Way of the Quad Cities:

United Way believes every Quad Citizen deserves the opportunity to live their best life. These opportunities happen by involving people in volunteerism, advocacy, and giving. The result is a mobilized community creating the conditions that improve individual lives and strengthen the Quad Cities. unitedwayqc.org.

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