61,000 pounds of food collected during ‘Stamp Out Hunger’

PEORIA (25News Now) - Over 61,000 pounds of food was collected in Peoria this year as part of the 31st annual “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive, which is held every year on the second Saturday of May through a partnership between the National Association of Letter Carriers and food banks nationwide.

While out on their routes, letter carriers collected the food from customers, which was taken to the Peoria Area Food Bank. It will then be distributed among its network of 83 local pantries.

The donations could not have come at a better time, either. Wayne Cannon, manager of the Peoria Area Food Bank, says there are over 37,000 food-insecure individuals living in our community and pantry shelves are bare.

Thanks to the efforts of volunteers from Caterpillar, donations from the food drive will be able to be packed and distributed sooner. Cannon says, “Packaging up the food now that we received last Saturday is so important and very timely... When you need food, you need food today. So this is definitely going to help.”

Cannon adds that the food drive will make a difference in our community. Donations from this year could make an estimated 70,000 meals, and not only will families receive immediate food relief, but they will also be able to stretch their dollars a little bit more.

“Stamp Out Hunger” is something that U.S.P.S. letter carrier Scott Haney is blessed to take part in. “It makes for a very physically challenging day... Besides doing the physical work of delivering the mail, we’re also physically picking up hundreds of pounds of food per route,” he says. “At the end of the day, we’re tired, but it’s a good tired.”

If you would like to volunteer or make a donation, or if you are in need of food assistance, you can find more information on Peoria Area Food Bank’s website.