FORT MYERS — Harry Chapin Food Bank and the United Way of Lee, Hendry, Glades and Okeechobee Counties will once again partner with the National Association of Letter Carriers as part of the Stamp Out Hunger food drive. The annual food drive will be held on Saturday, May 13, 2023.

Now in its 31st year, the Stamp Out Hunger food drive is the largest single-day food drive in the nation and provides residents with a convenient way to donate food to those in need. Customers can leave donations of non-perishable food items next to their mailboxes on May 13. Mail carriers will collect donations along their regular postal delivery routes and distribute the items to food banks and other participating organizations.

Winter residents heading back up north before May 13 can still participate in the food drive by dropping off unopened, non-perishable food items in the lobby of the post office nearest their home. These items will be collected and distributed as part of the Stamp Out Hunger food drive.

Non-perishable food items include unopened, non-breakable containers, such as peanut butter, pasta, tuna, rice, beans, canned meats, fruits, vegetables and soups.

Harry Chapin Food Bank and the United Way of Lee, Hendry, Glades and Okeechobee Counties partner with the National Association of Letter Carriers to ensure the food drive can be held each year. Hundreds of volunteers assist letter carriers by picking up food, unloading trucks and sorting items at postal drop-off sites.

Food collected in Lee County will be distributed by Harry Chapin Food Bank and other participating agencies, free of charge. The National Association of Letter Carriers food drive is pivotal in helping food banks, such as Harry Chapin Food Bank, and the agencies they serve continue to be supplied with food during the summer months, when school is out and there is a significant increase in food insecurity for children and families.