Help Stamp Out Hunger Today

Help Loaves and Fishes Stamp Out Hunger. TODAY!

Today, Saturday, May 14, the National Association of Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive will once again spread out across America to help provide assistance to Americans who are struggling with hunger.

According to County Commissioner Bryan Nelson, "This is a great way to help Apopka's food bank, Loaves and Fishes. The food collected in Apopka will stay in Apopka. This is Loaves' largest "food raiser" of the year"

The Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive effort is the nation's largest single-day drive. In 2015, more than 235,000 pounds of food were collected in the community and distributed out to feeding partners over the course of a couple weeks. This helped kids, seniors, and families all over Central Florida.

When do I put out the food? On the second Saturday of May, just set out your non-perishable food well before your letter carrier’s normal pick-up time.

Do I need to use a special bag? No! No special bags are needed. Paper is sturdy and tends to hold more food, while plastic holds up better if it gets wet (in the rain, etc.). Cloth bags or boxes are also fine. So it’s your choice. And most bags and boxes can be easily recycled.

What do you mean by “non-perishable food?” The top requested non-perishable food items are: cereal, pasta, pasta sauce or spaghetti sauce, rice, canned fruits and vegetables, canned meals, 100% juice, peanut butter, macaroni & cheese, canned protein and beans.

Is there anything I shouldn’t donate? Please do not donate frozen food, homemade food or home-canned items, or food in glass jars.

Critical needs items

• Fruits: Canned fruit (in its own juice, no sugar added varieties), dried fruit, 100% fruit juice
• Vegetables: Canned vegetables (reduced salt/no salt varieties), 100% vegetable juice, spaghetti sauce
• Grains: Rice, pasta, crackers (whole-grain varieties), ready-to-eat cereal (low sugar/high-fiber), oatmeal
• Protein Foods: Canned meat/poultry, canned tuna/salmon (packed in water), canned/dry beans & peas (low/no salt varieties), peanut butter
• Dairy/Dairy Alternatives: Nonfat dry milk, evaporated milk, soymilk
• Meals: Beef stew, canned soup (reduced sodium varieties), chili, other canned meals
• Other: Nutritional drinks (ex: Ensure, Boost)
• Baby Food: Must be in complete, undamaged original packaging. No individual serving glass or plastic containers unless in an unopened case.
• Non-food Items: Diapers, toiletries (soap, shampoo, shaving cream, etc.). Must be unopened and stored separate from food donations.

Special Needs of Infants and Toddlers

Infants

• Powdered infant milk or soy based formulas (WIC-approved preferred)
• Baby cereal
• Baby fruits (single ingredient preferred)
• Baby vegetables (single ingredient preferred)
• Baby Meats (no meat sticks)

Toddlers

• Shelf-stable white whole milk for 1 year olds; Shelf-stable 1% (low fat) or skim milk for 2 years olds and up; Shelf-stable soy milk.
• Canned fruits, preferably packed in juice with no added sugar
• Canned vegetables, preferably low sodium or no salt added
• Canned beans such as black, red, pink, pinto beans, black-eyed peas, pigeon peas, garbanzos
• Shelf stable foods designed for toddlers such as Stage 3, Graduates, etc.