The National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) in partnership with the U.S. Postal Service, Campbell Soup, Feeding America and other partners asks you to help “Stamp Out Hunger” in the Cassopolis area May 10.

Now in its 22nd year, the annual food drive has grown from a regional to a national effort that provides assistance to the millions of Americans struggling to put food on the table.

“We’re incredibly excited for the 22nd year of the Stamp Out Hunger food drive,” Postmaster Christine Smith said. “We’re asking residents for their support to make this year the most successful in the drive’s history. It’s so easy to make a donation. Simply leave a bag of non-perishable food items by your mailbox to help neighbors in need. That’s all it takes.”

Currently, 49 million Americans — one in six — are unsure where their next meal is coming from. Sixteen million are children who feel hunger’s impact on their overall health and ability to perform in school. And nearly 5 million seniors over age 60 are food insecure, with many who live on fixed incomes often too embarrassed to ask for help.

Too many people are still going to bed hungry and many of our carriers see this on a daily basis.  For over two decades they have taken the lead to stamp out this unnecessary problem.

In 2013, 74 million pounds of food was collected by postal carriers nationally, feeding an estimated 30 million people. The goal is to surpass last year’s total of 74 million pounds and come as close as possible to 80 million pounds.

Over the course of the 21-year history, the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive has collected well over one billion pounds of food.

The food drive’s timing is crucial. Food banks and pantries often receive the majority of their donations during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday seasons. By springtime, many pantries are depleted, entering the summer low on supplies at a time when many school breakfast and lunch programs are not available to children in need.

Just leave a non-perishable food donation in a bag by the mailbox on May 10 and the postal carrier will do the rest.