Harry Chapin needs volunteers and donations for ‘Stamp Out Hunger’ drive

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FORT MYERS, Fla.- Letter carriers in Lee  County are gearing up for the 23rd annual food drive.

Stamp Out Hunger, the nation’s largest single-day food drive, will be held on Saturday, May 9. This is the one day when letter carriers collect non-perishable food items that have been left by mailboxes.

Summer is coming, school will be out, and the need for food assistance will be great.  Food collected in Lee County will be distributed by the Harry Chapin Food Bank and several other agencies.  All food collected in this food drive is distributed to participating agencies at no cost.

Businesses can set up collection boxes for employees and customers who may not be able to leave food by their mailboxes on May 9. Nonperishable food in unopened, non-breakable containers may be donated. Items especially in need are peanut butter, tuna, rice, beans, canned meats, fruits, vegetables and soups.

Volunteers are also needed to help at post offices with preliminary food sorting from 3:30 p.m.- 7 p.m. on May 9.

Contact Tanya Phillips at Harry Chapin Food Bank at 239-334-7007 Ext. 141 tanyaphillips@harrychapinfoodbank.org  or Kim Berghs at the United Way at 239-433-2000 ext. 260 kim@unitedwaylee.org

The Harry Chapin Food Bank solicits, collects and stores quality food for distribution to families and others in need through a network of 150 nonprofit agencies in Lee, Collier, Hendry, Charlotte and Glades counties that provide food to more than 30,000 people monthly.

More than 1 million pounds of food are distributed by the Harry Chapin Food Bank monthly.  For each donated dollar, the food bank can distribute $6 worth of food and grocery items.  In 2014, the Harry Chapin Food Bank distributed 19.6 million pounds of food and other grocery items valued at more than $33.7  million. This is roughly the equivalent of 16.3 million meals to people in need.

Additional information about or to contribute financially to the Harry Chapin Food Bank, contact 239-334-7007 or go to harrychapinfoodbank.org.

 

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