Spring has Sprung! Help Stamp Out Hunger this May!

April 21st, 2014 loaves-fishes Community, Hunger Facts beef, Farm Bill, food collection, Food drive, food stamps, hunger, inflation, Kenneth Kronberg, Letter Carriers, Lyphus Stevenson, mailman, Maria Espinosa, Naperville, Naperville Sun, Post Office, Postmaster, produce, Stamp, Stamp out Hunger

Spring cleaning can finally begin now that the winter has released its firm grip on the suburbs. As we start emptying our cabinets and throwing away unwanted items, the National Association of Letter Carriers’ annual Stamp Out Hunger food collection is a reminder that we live among neighbors who cannot afford nutritious foods for their families.

This incredible single-day food drive is especially crucial in the wake of rising food prices for items such as meat, poultry, fish, eggs and fresh produce. In her article, “Meat and Produce Prices Lead Surge in Food Costs,” Alison Griswold discusses how “consumers will be spending proportionately more of their income on trips to the grocery. This leaves less pocket money for other discretionary spending, which isn’t great for the economy.” At Loaves & Fishes, our team prepares for potentially more clients visiting our grocery market to save for other household expenses, and we are hopeful that our current partnerships with local grocery stores will continue to donate a similar amount of these products as part of our food rescue efforts.

In addition to our food recovery, we are seeking assistance from the Naperville community through Stamp Out Hunger. In a recent article in the Naperville Sun, Susan Frick Carlman describes the extraordinary goal that has been set by local leadership. “Maria Espinosa and Lyphus Stevenson plan to boost the local numbers substantially, though they recognize it’s an ambitious objective. This year’s goal of 55,000 pounds exceeds the Naperville carriers’ record year by 10 percent.”

We were honored to be present at the April 15th Naperville City Council Meeting when the proclamation that May 10, 2014 is National Food Drive Day to Stamp Out Hunger was issued. With this proclamation, we anticipate greater community support for our low-income neighbors. Postmaster Kenneth Kronberg agrees that this year will be a huge success, “‘I think with Maria and Lyphus there, they’re going to get 100,000,’ he said. ‘I guarantee they will.'”

You can help us achieve our goal by placing a bag of food beside your mailbox by 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 10th for your mail carrier to help Stamp Out Hunger! Paper goods and nonperishable items are welcome; please check out our Most Needed Items list to help Loaves & Fishes stock up on necessary nutrition! You can also help by sharing this story via Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or by email by using the links below. We appreciate your help in spreading the word!

For full “Meat and Produce Prices Lead Surge in Food Costs” article, click here.
For full “Delivering nourishment: Post Office seeks to collect record amount of food” article, click here.