30-04-2025
You can help letter carriers Stamp Out Hunger in the Quad Cities
The community's largest single-day food drive is back, according to a news release.
On Saturday, May 10, residents across the Quad Cities are invited to take part in the 33rd annual Letter Carriers' Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive by leaving non-perishable food donations next to their mailboxes for local letter carriers to collect.
This massive community-wide effort is a proud partnership between United Way Quad Cities, the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC), the Quad City Federation of Labor and the River Bend Food Bank, and it provides vital support to local food pantries as they prepare for increased summer demand.
Last year, more than 163,000 meals were collected. That's enough to feed over 40,000 Quad Cities families. Organizers hope to surpass that total this year with the community's continued generosity.
'Stamp Out Hunger is a powerful example of what we can accomplish when working people come together for the greater good,' said Amy Fanning, AFL-CIO Community Services liaison at United Way Quad Cities. 'This partnership with our local letter carriers, labor unions and River Bend Food Bank shows our community that solidarity doesn't stop at the job site—it extends into our neighborhoods to make sure no one goes hungry.'
How to participate
Place non-perishable food items like canned vegetables, canned meats, pasta, rice, cereal, peanut butter, and boxed meals in a bag next to your mailbox before your regular mail delivery. (Please do not donate frozen or refrigerated foods, homemade items, home-canned goods, or anything in glass containers, because these cannot be accepted.)
Your letter carrier or a team of community volunteers will pick up your donation and ensure it gets to the River Bend Food Bank.
Volunteer opportunities
In addition to donating food, volunteers are needed to help collect donations along delivery routes, and unload and pack boxes of food at area post offices.
To sign up to volunteer or learn more, visit here.
'This drive is crucial,' said Chris Ford, CEO of River Bend Food Bank. 'With kids out of school and families struggling to make ends meet, food donations from Stamp Out Hunger help fill a major gap heading into the summer months. Every can, every box, every bag, makes a real difference.'
'We see the need every day on our routes,' added Ross Thorpe, letter carrier with Moline NALC Branch 318 and food drive coordinator. 'Stamp Out Hunger is our way of giving back and making sure no one in our neighborhoods goes hungry. It's an honor to help connect our community in this way.'
Local sponsors include IUOE Local 150, Jewel-Osco, NALC Branches 292, 318, 506, 3811, Quad City Federation of Labor, UAW Quad City Area CAP Council, UAW Locals 79, 281, 434, 865, UFCW LOCAL 431 and USW Local 105.
About United Way Quad Cities
United Way Quad Cities (UWQC) is a social change organization that mobilizes the Quad Cities to action so all can thrive. From strengthening local resilience to advancing education, financial security and health, UWQC is working toward a future where every Quad Citian in every neighborhood can reach their full potential.
About River Bend Food Bank
River Bend Food Bank works with 400-plus hunger-relief partners in 23 counties to make sure people facing hunger have reliable access to healthy food. Leading the community-wide effort to eliminate hunger in eastern Iowa and western Illinois, the Food Bank distributes millions of meals each year to children, adults, and seniors through partner agencies and food pantries in schools, senior residences, and community organizations.
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