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On May 11, letter carriers in Pottawatomie County will be collecting canned food donations from homes on their routes as they fight hunger during the 27th annual National Association of Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive.

Donations collected in Pottawatomie County will benefit Community Market of Pottawatomie County, DHS Pottawatomie County, First Baptist Church of McLoud, Highland Church of Christ Tecumseh, Project Save Haven Shelter, Shawnee Housing Authority, Tecumseh Housing Authority, Tecumseh Senior Center and Trinity Baptist Church in collaboration with the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma.

Residents are asked to fill up the plastic donation bag they receive in their mailbox the week of May 6 with canned food and leave it by their mailbox on Saturday, May 11. The food will then be collected by a letter carrier.

“The Letter Carriers’ Food Drive is very integral to helping the Regional Food Bank meet our goal of feeding Oklahomans in need of food assistance,” said Katie Fitzgerald, chief executive officer of the Regional Food Bank. “This food drive comes at a time of year when utility bills are rising and those struggling with food insecurity need it most.”

Most needed items include: canned meats, meat-based soups, canned fruits, canned vegetables, peanut butter and rice and beans. Nonperishable food donations can also be dropped off at participating post offices. Monetary donations can also be made online at feedinghope.org or by calling 405-600-3136. Every dollar donated will help provide four meals for Oklahomans with inconsistent access to healthy food.

In Oklahoma, one in six residents are food insecure. In the last year, the Regional Food Bank distributed 50 million pounds of food in 53 counties in central and western Oklahoma.

The Letter Carriers’ Food Drive has raised more than 11.3 million pounds of food in Oklahoma since 1993 and has raised more than 1 billion pounds nationwide.

For more information about the Letter Carriers’ Food Drive, ask your letter carrier, contact your local post office or contact Jackie Dobson at [email protected] or 405-600-3193.