May 11, 2022 — Put a bag or box of food out for your letter carrier this Saturday, May 14, and help "Stamp Out Hunger" in the community. 

After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Florence Postal Carriers are at it again, with the Letter Carriers’ "Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive." This Saturday, people are asked to leave a bag or box of non-perishable food next to their mailbox, and letter carriers will deliver it to Florence Food Share to help fill up the shelves. 

"This is really the community's chance to make a difference, and it is so easy to participate," said Patrick Lewis, Rural Carrier and Union Steward at the Florence Post Office. "All you have to do is put your donation of non-perishable groceries next to your mailbox, and then your mail carrier will do the rest."  

According to Colin Morgan, executive director of Florence Food Share, "With the cost of food and gas increasing, families are having a tough time keeping up. We've seen an increased need, and this drive could not come at a better time." 

In 2019, the Florence Post Office gathered thousands of pounds of desperately needed food for families and seniors in the Florence, Westlake and Dunes City areas. And this year, the food drive could is especially timely. In the past two months, Florence Food Share has seen a massive increase in need, with March seeing over 300 additional services compared to the year prior.

"I know that this time of year is when Florence Food Share and food pantries around the country have really depleted their supplies that came in during the holidays," Lewis said. "When the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) first made this a nationwide campaign 30 years ago, they specifically chose the second Saturday in May because it is the time that many food pantries have the most need."  

The NALC Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive piloted its food drive in 10 cities in October 1991; since then, it has moved to the second Saturday in May and has expanded to over 10,000 cities and all 50 states and gathered about 1.82 billion pounds of food for pantries nationwide. 

The mission of Florence Food Share is to alleviate hunger and enhance the health and dignity of people in western Lane County. The pantry is located at 2190 Spruce St. in Florence and is open Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Wednesdays from 4 to 6 p.m., and the second and fourth Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. 

For more information, call 541-997-9110 or visit www.florencefoodshare.org/.