Post office works to “Stamp Out Hunger”

JACKSON, Tenn.—The Hub City was one of 10,000 cities to put a stamp on hunger today as part of the nation’s largest single day food drive.

The National Association of Letter Carriers hosted their 24th Annual “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive.

“It grows every year so I think we are gonna really show out again this year,” USPS city carrier assistant Janelle Baker said.

All the food collected in Jackson will go to RIFA to help with their emergency food bags, snack backpack program, and to fill their food bank.

“This food drive is a 24-year-old tradition so it is a very important staple in the nation but it’s also a very important staple in Jackson,” communications director for RIFA Chelsea-Catherine Cobb said.

Bags have been left in mailboxes all week for people to put their donations in, then back in the mailbox it goes for the post office to pick up.

Letter carriers say this is one of their biggest days, but they take the extra load with a grateful heart.

“Of course it’s important for people to have a meal and we just want to say thank you and we are really happy that the community comes out and helps us,” Baker said.

Baker says last year Jackson raised more food than Memphis totaling more than 22,000 pounds.

Since the first “Stamp out Hunger” event 24 years ago, the USPS has nationally brought in 1.3 billion pounds of food.