HURON – Letter carriers will collect non-perishable food donations at Huron residences on Saturday, May 11 in an effort to stock the local food pantry to provide for people in need.
It is the 27th anniversary of the National Association of Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive.
Feeding South Dakota Communications Coordinator Jennifer Stensaas said the organization is encouraging the entire state to surpass the 145,000 pounds of food collected in Sioux Falls, Rapid City and surrounding communities in last year’s drive.
One in nine South Dakota residents is food insecure, and children in those households feel hunger’s impact on their overall health and ability to perform in school, she said.
In the days leading up to the food drive, a postcard will be delivered to mailboxes in participating communities such as Huron asking people to participate.
They will be encouraged to leave non-perishable food items in a bag by their mailbox.
Food items collected in Sioux Falls and Rapid City will be donated to Feeding South Dakota.
“With the increasing need at the food pantry, drives like this one make sure we can keep our shelves full throughout the year,” said Matt Gassen, Feeding South Dakota chief executive officer.
“Across the state, all other food donations will stay local in the communities in which they were collected,” he said.
Last year, more than 71 million pounds of food were collected across all 50 states.
Food banks and pantries often receive the majority of donations during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday seasons and are depleted by spring.
Some of the most needed items include cereal, peanut butter, boxed dinners, canned fruit and vegetables as well as canned protein items like tuna and chicken.
Feeding South Dakota is the state’s largest charitable hunger relief organization. Last year, it secured and distributed nearly 12.2 million pounds of food, providing 10.2 million meals to more than 100,000 people in need.
