Stamp Out Hunger food drive kicks off across the Ozarks

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (KY3) — The 33rd Stamp Out Hunger food drive by the National Association of Letter Carriers kicked off Thursday in Springfield.

The country’s largest single-day food drive happens Saturday. To donate, leave a bag of non-perishable food items by your mailbox before mail carriers stop by to pick them up. Carriers have delivered blue bags to mailboxes across the area. The bags have a QR code to make it easier for you to help your community.

One day of giving can reach thousands in Missouri.

“We received 140,000 meals last year for about 170,000 pounds,” says Jordan Browning with Ozarks Food Harvest.

And those who see every house and mailbox are stepping up.

“And we’re so appreciative of the postal workers who are picking this up, because we know that is not an easy job, and we thank them for sacrificing their backs for us,” says Browning.

They have reasons for helping.

“I heard of children, you know, young kids whose last meal is lunch on Friday, and they don’t eat again until Monday. So, it’s, it’s vital and important that the letter carriers put this food drive on in order to, you know, prevent from these kids going hungry as well too,” says Chris Calvillo, the local NALC Food Driver Coordinator and Postal Carrier for the United States Postal Service.

Some even know what it’s like to make ends meet.

“We grew up poor. We’ve been to the food banks before. I don’t remember a whole lot of my childhood, but, you know, my mom was a single mom with three kids, and so she was struggling,” says Calvillo.

Help can be tucked away in your pantry.

“A lot of those things that, yeah, you end up finding in your pantry, you’re like, oh, we meant to use that and didn’t end up using it. I mean, beans, canned tuna, canned chicken, any kind of vegetables, yeah, someone will incredibly appreciate that,” says Browning.

And understanding that not everyone can help.

“Course, you want everybody to be able to give. But some, for some reason, you know, people have other things that come up. You know, maybe they don’t have it. The addition with the QR code this year was a perfect example of, hey, everybody can can give now,” says Calvillo.

Those blue bags this year have made it easier to help your neighbors.

“We can stretch that dollar. While it is great to get a canned food donation at times of protein or anything like that, we can take just $1 and turn it into $10 for the groceries. So, we can stretch it as far as it can possibly go,” says Browning.

And knowing the heart of those in the Ozarks will help anytime they are asked.

“I think that’s a really great display of our community, and so many are willing to give back because they know it’s staying here. They know it’s going to help their neighbors in need,” says Browning.

And for those picking up and delivering the blue bags this weekend?

“I would say the smartest thing would be. Do not try to carry all of it. I once, because you’re going to hurt yourself,” says Calvillo.

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