Harry Chapin Food Bank and the United Way of Lee, Hendry, Glades and Okeechobee Counties are seeking volunteers for the 2023 Stamp Out Hunger food drive Saturday, May 13.

Now in its 31st year, the National Association of Letter Carriers event is the largest single-day food drive in the nation, providing residents with a convenient way to donate food to those in need. On May 13, customers are encouraged to leave donations of non-perishable food items next to their mailboxes. Mail carriers will collect donations along their regular postal delivery routes and distribute the items to food banks and other participating organizations.

United Way will need about 75 volunteer drivers to help letter carriers pick up food left by mailboxes on designated Lee County routes. To volunteer as a driver, visit unitedwaylee.org/volunteer.

Harry Chapin Food Bank needs approximately 300 volunteers to help with set-up, unloading trucks and sorting items at the Page Field Post Office, Six Mile Annex and the Cape Coral Post Office.

To volunteer, visit https://harrychapinfoodbank.org/volunteer and submit an application.

For more information, contact Lori Harrington, volunteer manager, at lharrington@harrychapinfoodbank.org.

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 stay supplied with food during the summer months, when school is out and there is a significant increase in food insecurity for children and families.

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

About Harry Chapin Food Bank

Harry Chapin Food Bank, a member of Feeding America, is the largest hunger-relief organization in Southwest Florida. The food bank rescues food that would otherwise go to waste and distributes it to children, families, and seniors who are hungry through a series of food distribution programs that feed more than a quarter of a million people each month.

Harry Chapin Food Bank distributed $61.5 million worth of food in fiscal year 2022. Through our food distribution programs, we supplied 34.7 million pounds of food and other grocery items, including 12 million pounds of fresh produce. The food is the equivalent of 29 million meals distributed to those who are hungry.

The Harry Chapin Food Bank’s membership with Feeding America enables us to amplify our food and distribution efforts and bring in food from various retail and grocery stores, national food producers and distributors, and growers locally, nationally, and even internationally.

Harry Chapin Food Bank is proud to be named a Blueprint Partner by the Naples Children & Education Foundation (NCEF), the founding organization of the Naples Winter Wine Festival. Harry Chapin Food Bank is also a United Way partner agency. For more information or to make a gift, please call 239.334.7007 or visit harrychapinfoodbank.org.

About United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades

United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades is a volunteer driven organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for all people in our community. This is accomplished through fundraising, fund distribution, community building, volunteer advancement, and information and referrals.

For more information, please call United Way at 239.433.2000 or visit UnitedWayLee.org.