Letter carriers to host annual food drive on Saturday

What’s happening: On Saturday, the National Association of Letter Carriers will host its annual Stomp Out Hunger Food Drive. Here in Springfield, donations benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank and its partnering agencies in Clark, Champaign, and Logan counties. 

As letter carriers deliver mail on May 10, they’ll collect food donations from residents along their routes.

How to participate: Residents are encouraged to leave non-perishable food items, like canned soup, canned vegetables, canned meats, pasta, rice, or cereal in a sturdy bag near their mailbox before regular mail delivery on Saturday. Bags and food items will be picked up by letter carriers then.

Donations can also be brought to the Second Harvest Food Bank warehouse, located at 31 North Sycamore St, between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday, or between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. 

What they’re saying: “We’re excited to once again be a part of this food drive. It not only brings the community together for a day of giving, but it also helps us prepare to meet the increased need for food assistance during the summer months when children are out of school.” -Procurement Manager, Toni Tayloe-Haddix 

Why it matters: According to the press release, 10,499 pounds of food were collected and sent to Second Harvest Food Bank, amounting to over 8,700 meals. Additionally, the food bank was presented with a $2,000 check, which further helps provide food for neighbors in need.

In 2023, Second Harvest Food Bank served over 600,000 people with almost 5 million meals provided across its three-county service area.

Stomp Out Hunger is the county’s largest one-day food drive and provides an easy way for people to donate food to local food banks.
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Read more articles by Brittany Lantz.

Brittany Lantz is State Editor for Indiana-Ohio, overseeing Input Fort Wayne and Hub Springfield. With roots in Ohio and now based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, she brings valuable perspective to both states in coordinating journalism efforts across the region. She joined Issue Media Group in 2021 as Assistant Editor for Input Fort Wayne. Prior to that she participated in the College Input Program and interned with Northeast Indiana Public Radio.