Leave food donations by your mailbox on May 11 to support community preparedness

When times are hard, putting food on the table can be a big worry, and it can be even more so after a disaster.

That's where community food banks come in. Because they have the know-how to distribute food, water and supplies fast, food banks serve a major role in communities during emergencies.

And because we never know when a disaster might occur, it’s important to keep local food banks stocked. Which is where you come in.

This Saturday, May 11, you can join the biggest one-day food drive in the country.  During the annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, mail carriers across the country will pick up donated food items along with the mail.

You can take part by setting out a bag of food donations on Saturday morning. Items that are needed include pasta, cereal, rice and canned fruits and vegetables. Set your items next to your mailbox in a sturdy bag.

Last year, the food drive collected almost 724,600 pounds of food in one day, helping feed 603,800 people. This year we can do it again and support preparedness too.

For more info on the food drive, check out the FAQs. Contact your local post office if you want to confirm that they’re participating.

If you’re feeling inspired after Stamp Out Hunger is over, you can organize your own food drive using our Get Ready toolkit. Together, we can help to reduce hunger and help our communities be prepared!