Westfield Letter Carriers Collecting for Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive May 9

WESTFIELD, NJ — As part of U.S. letter carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, held annually the second Saturday in May, area residents are asked to leave bagged donations of non-perishable food near their mailboxes in time for the carriers’ visits on May 9. "Essentially, we simply ask residents to leave a bag, or several, of non-perishable food items outside near their mailbox to be collected by our carriers,” said Dan Peterson, treasurer of the National Association of Letter Carriers Westfield/Mountainside branch. The drive has been held across the country since 1993, and is the largest single-day food drive in the country, Peterson said. Last year in Westfield letter carriers collected over 1,000 pounds of food, and they are hoping to get even more this year, he said.“Since COVID, we have been trying to get back to pre-pandemic levels of collection,” he added. “The Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive really hit its peak around 2016, but the numbers haven't been as good following the lockdowns and other economic frustrations that have happened in the U.S.”“Food pantries tend to start needing food around this time of year, after the holiday donations run out, which is why the NALC chose May for our annual drive,” he added. “This year in particular, the food pantry we partner with locally is in dire need of supplies.”The National Association of Letter Carriers Westfield/Mountainside branch works with the Westfield Food Pantry, located at 425 North Ave. East in Westfield.“The Stamp Out Hunger drive has traditionally stocked our shelves enough to carry us into the summer months,” said Keith Gibbons, a trustee of the Westfield Food Pantry. “The good and generous people of Westfield are the Food Pantry. Together, we're helping put food on the tables of families in Westfield and Union County.”The USDA reports that about 45 million Americans experience food insecurity, which is nearly one in seven households, Peterson noted. “With somewhere in the neighborhood of 10,000 households in Westfield and about 2,500 or so in Mountainside, we can make a massive impact by getting just a couple cans of food from every home,” he said. Gibbons said that the Westfield Food Pantry is currently most in need of the following items:Pasta sauces (plastic jars or cans)Macaroni and cheeseRice (1- and 2-pound size)Meals in a can (such as Beefaroni, SpaghettiOs and Spam)Canned chickenPancake mixPancake syrupPeanut butter and jellyMayonnaiseCereals (low sugar, high fiber)Shelf-stable milkItems for personal needs (toothpaste, soap, deodorant)Diapers and wipesHe noted that those donating to the food drive should take care not to include items in glass containers or expired food.“We know that with the help of our neighbors in Westfield and Mountainside, we can make a big difference,” Peterson said.