The 28th annual Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, originally scheduled for Saturday, May 9, 2020, has been postponed. The National Association of Letter Carriers, as well as its national partners, are “fully committed” to rescheduling the food drive later in 2020. A new date has not yet been scheduled.

The NALC issued a statement indicating that “The annual success of the food drive is largely due to the efforts of letter carriers, other postal employees, postal customers, community volunteers and many more. Their safety is of paramount importance. Much of the United States is currently under shelter in place or similar advisories due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and public health authorities such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have issued guidelines that include social distancing.”

The decision to postpone the food drive was based on those social distancing guidelines, keeping the health and safety of letters carriers and postal patrons in mind.

The statement continued: “NALC and our national partners recognize that food assistance is a critical need for many during this difficult time, and we remain committed to helping those in need in the communities we serve across America. We look forward to once again holding the largest one-day food drive in America when it is safe to do so.”

Locally, the food collected by Escalon letter carriers goes to help the C.A.R.E. food pantry.

“Millions of Americans donate food on the second Saturday in May every year to help fight hunger in their communities. While we may not be able to safely conduct the food drive on its traditional date, we encourage those that would participate to consider donations that may be safely made to food banks in the form of food or financial assistance,” the statement concluded. “Letter carriers, our national partners, community supporters and volunteers will be prepared to Stamp Out Hunger once again when it is safe to do so.”