Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger® Food Drive2026 · Date · History · Messages
NALC states that its annual Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger® Food Drive launched in 1993 and is held on the second Saturday in May. NALC also states that branch, rural-office and individual-carrier participation is voluntary, so local collection availability must be checked rather than assumed.
About Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger® Food Drive
The Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger® Food Drive is the National Association of Letter Carriers’ annual community food collection, held on the second Saturday in May. NALC states that the national drive launched in 1993.
Participating letter carriers collect donated non-perishable food for local food banks and pantries. Participation by branches, rural offices and individual carriers is voluntary, so households should confirm local participation rather than assume collection is available at every address.
Why Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger® Food Drive matters
The drive uses the letter-carrier network to make local food donation convenient while directing collected food back to participating communities.
The practical emphasis is on suitable non-perishable donations and local coordination. This guide does not replace current NALC, local branch, postal or food-bank instructions.
History of Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger® Food Drive
NALC states that its annual Stamp Out Hunger® Food Drive launched in 1993 and has grown into a nationwide community-service program.
NALC’s current program page and toolkit identify the second Saturday in May as the annual date rule. The project therefore treats the recurrence as stable rather than requiring a year-specific date refresh.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC)
NALC identifies the annual national food drive as its program and states that it launched in 1993.
National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC)
NALC’s first-party program history identifies the organization’s national drive launched in 1993.
First documented observance
NALC states that the annual Stamp Out Hunger® Food Drive launched in 1993.
National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC)
NALC maintains the current national food-drive program, toolkit, local participation guidance and branch resources.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
4 fields not established in reviewed sources
Also known as
Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive Day
How to Observe Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger® Food Drive
Check NALC’s local branch information or contact your local post office to confirm whether your area is participating.
If local collection is confirmed, follow the current official instructions for when and where to place suitable non-perishable food donations.
Choose unopened, appropriate non-perishable food and follow any additional local pantry or organizer guidance about accepted items.
If your area is not participating, consider donating directly to a reputable local food bank or pantry under that organization’s current donation rules.
Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger® Food Drive Facts
NALC says the national Stamp Out Hunger® Food Drive launched in 1993.
The annual drive is held on the second Saturday in May.
NALC describes the collection as benefiting local food pantries and food banks.
NALC states that branch, rural-office and individual-carrier participation is voluntary.
Stamp Out Hunger® is a registered trademark of the National Association of Letter Carriers.
Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger® Food Drive Messages
If your local carrier is taking part, a suitable non-perishable donation can support neighbors through a community food pantry.
Thank you to letter carriers, volunteers, food banks and donors supporting local communities through Stamp Out Hunger®.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
- Confirm the date again before carrying it into a new year.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
National Association of Letter Carriers — branch lookup and voluntary participation note (opens in a new tab)
First Party Local Participation Check
National Association of Letter Carriers — Food Drive toolkit (opens in a new tab)
First Party Trademark And Rule
National Association of Letter Carriers — Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger® Food Drive (opens in a new tab)
First Party Organizer Current History Rule
National Association of Letter Carriers — participation FAQ (opens in a new tab)
First Party Local Participation Guidance
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger® Food Drive?
Second Saturday of May The documented recurrence rule is: Second Saturday of May.
Does Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger® Food Drive fall on the same date every year?
It follows a recurring calendar rule, so the Gregorian date can change from year to year.
Is Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger® Food Drive an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: United States and participating U.S. postal jurisdictions / National Association of Letter Carriers annual food drive. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger® Food Drive?
The reviewed sources identify National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) as the proclaiming or establishing body. Current facilitation or coordination is recorded as National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC).
Is Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger® Food Drive international or country-specific?
No single country is assigned to this observance. Its documented scope is: United States and participating U.S. postal jurisdictions / National Association of Letter Carriers annual food drive. Use that scope rather than assuming worldwide or country-specific status.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-10-05.
When is the Stamp Out Hunger® Food Drive?
NALC holds the annual drive on the second Saturday in May.
When did the national food drive begin?
NALC states that the national Stamp Out Hunger® Food Drive launched in 1993.
Does every letter carrier participate?
No. NALC states that participation is voluntary. Check the local branch lookup or contact your local post office to confirm participation in your area.
What can I donate?
NALC asks for non-perishable food. Follow the current official and local instructions for accepted items and collection details.
Where does the food go?
NALC says collected donations support food banks and pantries in participating local communities.
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