Jonesboro, AR – Contributed – The Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas encourages area residents to participate in the nation’s largest one-day food drive on Saturday, May 9.

The National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) will sponsor its annual “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive in coordination with the United States Postal Service, this Saturday.

Each year on the second Saturday in May, letter carriers collect non-perishable food items. Postal customers are encouraged to fill the blue bag provided (in mailboxes prior to the drive date) with unopened, in-date food items before their mail is delivered that day. The letter carrier will pick up the donated food, which will be processed and donated to a local food bank.

For this region, those donations will go to the Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas.

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Food items in greatest need in this area include canned meats (tuna, chicken), peanut butter, canned fruits and vegetables, soups, pasta and canned pasta sauce, cereal, and boxed meals. Food items stored in glass containers should not be donated to ensure the safety of those who will handle and process the food items.

“We want to ask every Northeast Arkansas resident to check your pantry, fill a bag, and leave it beside your mailbox this Saturday morning,” said Elizabeth Johnson, donor engagement coordinator for the Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas. “Encourage your friends, family, and coworkers to participate as well. It’s one day, one bag, and one simple way to make sure no one in our community goes hungry. Together, we can make a huge impact with this small act.”

Recent studies conducted by the University of Arkansas indicate that 28.8 percent of Arkansas’ residents are facing food insecurity. Statistics from the United States Department of Agriculture show that Arkansas has the highest rate of food-insecure citizens in the nation.

For more information on the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, click here.

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