NALC Stamp Out Hunger: How to Participate in the Nation’s Largest One-Day Food Drive

Every spring, one of the easiest community food drives in the country happens right at the mailbox. The Stamp Out Hunger food drive gives neighbors a simple way to help families facing hunger by setting out non-perishable food for their letter carrier to collect.

That convenience is part of what makes the event so effective. For households across Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore, it is a direct way to support local hunger relief without driving to a donation site or signing up for a formal event. If you have been looking for how to support local food banks, this is one of the clearest ways to do it.

This year, the NALC Stamp Out Hunger 2026 campaign takes place on Saturday, May 9. This guide explains how the drive works, how to participate in Stamp Out Hunger, what to donate for Stamp Out Hunger, and how the collected food helps local hunger-relief efforts in our region.

What Is the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive?

The Stamp Out Hunger food drive is the National Association of Letter Carriers’ annual one-day food drive. Each year, letter carriers collect non-perishable food donations left in mailboxes and help route them to local food banks and pantries.

That simple setup is what has made the drive so successful. The event uses a route already built into daily life. Instead of asking donors to make a separate trip, it brings the collection point to the house.

The letter carriers food drive also works because it is local. Food collected in a community helps support hunger relief in that community. For the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore, that means the drive helps strengthen local distribution and stock local partner agencies at an important time of year.

How to Participate in Stamp Out Hunger

If you are wondering how to participate in Stamp Out Hunger, the process is simple.

Step 1: Gather non-perishable food

Start by collecting shelf-stable items from your pantry or picking up a few extras at the store. Focus on practical, nutritious items that are easy to sort, store, and distribute.

Step 2: Bag the food

Place the items in a sturdy bag. If your mail carrier leaves an official Stamp Out Hunger bag, you can use that. If not, a regular grocery bag works fine as long as it can hold the items safely.

Step 3: Leave the bag by your mailbox

On Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive Day, place the bag near your mailbox before your normal mail delivery time. That gives your carrier a clear chance to collect it during the regular route.

Step 4: Invite others to join in

One of the easiest ways to help local food banks become more effective is for neighbors to remind neighbors. Mention the drive to family, coworkers, church groups, or people on your street. A few extra households taking part can make a noticeable difference.

What to Donate for Stamp Out Hunger

If you are deciding what to donate to Stamp Out Hunger, focus on shelf-stable foods that can help support real meals.

Good options include:

• canned tuna, chicken, or salmon
• peanut butter
• canned beans
• low-sodium canned vegetables
• fruit packed in juice
• oatmeal or dry cereal
• pasta and rice
• canned soups and stews
• shelf-stable milk

These are the kinds of items that work well for local food banks and partner pantries because they are useful, easy to store, and easy to distribute.

A few items are better left out of your Stamp Out Hunger bag:

• glass jars or bottles
• expired food
• opened packages
• fresh or frozen foods
• cans that are leaking or badly damaged

For anyone looking up what to donate to Stamp Out Hunger, the goal is not just to give something. It is to give something safe, shelf-stable, and practical.

Why the Letter Carriers Food Drive Matters Locally

The Stamp Out Hunger food drive 2026 is a national campaign, but its impact is local. That is what makes it especially valuable for organizations like the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore.

May is an important time for hunger relief. Summer is approaching, which means many families are about to lose the regular support that school meals provide. A one-day drive in early May helps local food banks and pantries gather food before that summer pressure increases.

That timing is a big part of why the letter carriers food drive matters so much. It helps stock shelves before a season when many households need extra help. It also gives the broader community an easy way to support local food assistance programs without much planning.

The drive also works because it lowers the barrier to participation. People who may not attend a fundraiser or organize a food drive can still take part just by setting out a bag at home. That makes the event more accessible and helps bring more households into the effort.

Other Ways to Help Local Food Banks

The Stamp Out Hunger food drive is a strong one-day opportunity, but it is not the only way to support local hunger relief.

If you want to go beyond the mailbox, you can also:

• make a financial gift through the Foodbank’s Donate page
• sign up through the Volunteer page
• use the Get Help page to connect someone with food resources
• share the event and encourage others to participate
• support other local food banks to donate food to through the Foodbank’s broader regional network

That matters because food drives are important, but hunger relief continues after May 9. The drive is a strong entry point. Ongoing support keeps the work moving.

Key Takeaways

• The Stamp Out Hunger food drive gives neighbors an easy way to support local hunger relief.
• The NALC Stamp Out Hunger 2026 event takes place on Saturday, May 9.
• If you want to know how to participate in Stamp Out Hunger, place a bag of non-perishable food by your mailbox before mail delivery.
• If you are deciding what to donate to Stamp Out Hunger, choose safe, shelf-stable pantry staples.
• The letter carriers food drive helps support local food banks and pantries at an important time of year.
• You can also help through financial gifts, volunteering, and sharing resources.

FAQs

When is the Stamp Out Hunger food drive 2026?

It takes place on Saturday, May 9, 2026.

How do I participate in Stamp Out Hunger?

Put a bag of non-perishable food by your mailbox before your normal mail delivery time on the day of the drive.

What should I donate for Stamp Out Hunger?

Shelf-stable items like canned proteins, beans, soups, pasta, rice, cereal, and peanut butter are strong choices.

Can I use my own bag?

Yes. If you do not receive an official drive bag, a sturdy grocery bag is fine.

Where does the food go?

The donations help support local food banks and pantries serving the surrounding community.

Your Mailbox Can Help Feed a Neighbor

The strength of the Stamp Out Hunger food drive is how easy it is to join. You do not need a special trip or a complicated plan. You need a bag, a few shelf-stable items, and a reminder to set them out on May 9.

If you want to support local food banks in a practical, local way, this is a strong opportunity to do it. Then, if you want to keep helping after the drive ends, you can continue that support through giving, volunteering, or sharing Foodbank resources with others.

Set aside a few items, mark May 9 on your calendar, and take part in the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive 2026. To keep helping after the drive, visit the Foodbank’s Donate, Volunteer, or Get Help pages.