Nation’s Largest Single-Day Food Drive Collected 70.2 Million Pounds of Food Last Year
Indianapolis, IN May 2, 2012 ― On Saturday, May 12, 2012, Campbell Soup Company will join forces with the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) to help Stamp Out Hunger in Indiana. Now in its 20th year, the annual food drive has grown from a regional to a national effort that provides assistance to the millions of Americans struggling to put food on the table.
The Stamp Out Hunger food drive, held on the second Saturday in May, has become the nation’s largest single-day food drive benefitting Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization. In 2011, generous Americans donated 70.2 million pounds of food, which marked the eighth consecutive year that at least 70 million pounds were collected by letter carriers.
“We’re incredibly excited for the 20th anniversary of the Stamp Out Hunger food drive,” said Fredric V. Rolando, NALC president. “We’re asking people across the country for their support to make this year’s drive the most successful in its 20 year history. It’s so easy to make a donation: simply leave a bag of non-perishable food by your mailbox to help neighbors in need. That’s all it takes.”
This year, Nick Cannon, multi-talented entertainer and member of the Feeding America Entertainment Council, is the national spokesperson for the Stamp Out Hunger food drive for the second year in a row. The drive particularly hits home for Cannon, who experienced hunger and visited food pantries as a child. Cannon will promote the drive on television and radio, as well as in print and social media to encourage even greater participation and donations.
The need for food assistance continues to exist in every community in America, no matter how rich or poor, and every county in Indiana. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s annual study measuring food security in the United States, 13 percent of Hoosier households were food insecure in 2011 (the most recent year that such data is available). Perhaps most alarming is the fact that 1 in 4 Hoosier children is faced with the prospect of hunger.
Campbell Soup Company and its partners are producing post cards and shopping bags that will be delivered to more than 90 million homes across the country as a reminder to participate in the drive. In addition, Campbell will again support this year’s food collection effort by donating one million pounds of food to Feeding America.
“Campbell is committed to the success of the Stamp Out Hunger food drive and we encourage everyone to participate,” said Denise Morrison, Campbell Soup Company’s president and chief executive officer. “It’s unfortunate that millions of Americans, especially our children, continue to go hungry in a country as bountiful as ours. We believe that, with the help and generosity of those who are able, we can provide much needed support for our community members in need.”
To participate in the 20th Stamp Out Hunger food drive in Indiana, residents are encouraged to leave a sturdy bag containing non-perishable foods, such as canned soup, canned vegetables, pasta, rice or cereal next to their mailbox prior to the time of regular mail delivery on Saturday, May 12. Hoosier letter carriers will collect these food donations as they deliver the mail and take them to regional food banks and emergency food relief agencies.
Feeding America provides food assistance to 37 million Americans every year. According to Feeding America, one in eight Americans rely on the organization for food and groceries, and the organization distributes 3 billion pounds of donated food and grocery products annually. Member food banks of Feeding Indiana’s Hungry, Inc. distributed 66 million pounds of food in 2012 through agencies in every Indiana county.
For more information about the annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive, visit www.helpstampouthunger.com or www.facebook.com/StampOutHunger, and follow the drive at www.twitter.com/StampOutHunger.
Member food banks of Feeding Indiana’s Hungry receiving food from the Stamp Out Hunger drive are:
Food Bank of Northwest Indiana, Gary
Food Bank of Northern Indiana, South Bend
Food Finders Food Bank, Inc., Lafayette
Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central Indiana, Inc., Muncie
Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana, Indianapolis
Terre Haute Catholic Charities Foodbank, Terre Haute
Hoosier Hills Food Bank, Bloomington
Tri-State Food Bank, Inc., Evansville
Dare to Care Food Bank, Louisville, KY
Freestore Foodbank, Cincinnati, OH
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About the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC)
The National Association of Letter Carriers is the union of city delivery letter carriers working for the United States Postal Service founded in 1889. Today, the NALC maintains its tradition as a vibrant union of over 300,000 members in all 50 states and other U.S. jurisdictions. For more information, visit http://nalc.org/commun/foodrive/index.html.
About Campbell Soup Company
Campbell Soup Company is a global manufacturer and marketer of high-quality foods and simple meals, including soup and sauces, baked snacks and healthy beverages. Founded in 1869, the company has a portfolio of market-leading brands, including “Campbell’s,” “Pepperidge Farm,” “Arnott’s” and “V8.” Through its corporate social responsibility program, the company strives to make a positive impact in the workplace, in the marketplace and in the communities in which it operates. Campbell is a member of the Standard & Poor’s 500 and the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes. For more information, visit www.campbellsoup.com.
About Feeding America
Feeding America provides low-income individuals and families with the fuel to survive and even thrive. As the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity, our network members supply food to more than 37 million Americans each year, including 14 million children and 3 million seniors. Serving the entire United States, more than 200 member food banks support 61,000 agencies that address hunger in all of its forms. For more information on how you can fight hunger in your community and across the country, visit http://www.feedingamerica.org. Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/FeedingAmerica or follow our news on Twitter at twitter.com/FeedingAmerica.
About Feeding Indiana’s Hungry
Feeding Indiana’s Hungry, Inc. is the statewide association of Feeding America affiliated food banks (formerly America’s Second Harvest). Our eleven member food banks serve more than 1,700 agencies in all 92 counties, providing emergency food assistance to Hoosiers in need.
Feeding Indiana’s Hungry, Inc. food banks statewide include:
Food Bank of Northwest Indiana, Gary
Food Bank of Northern Indiana, South Bend
Food Finders Food Bank, Inc., Lafayette
Community Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Indiana, Ft. Wayne
Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central Indiana, Inc., Muncie
Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana, Indianapolis
Terre Haute Catholic Charities Foodbank, Terre Haute
Hoosier Hills Food Bank, Bloomington
Tri-State Food Bank, Inc., Evansville
Dare to Care Food Bank, Louisville, KY
Freestore Foodbank, Cincinnati, OH
