Metropolitan Ministries Joins 30th Annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive

TAMPA, FL. - The Stamp Out Hunger® food drive returns this spring on Saturday, May 14, 2022, and for the fifth year in a row Metropolitan Ministries will work together with the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) as the official 2022 Florida benefiting nonprofit for Hillsborough County.

For 30 years, NALC has conducted The Stamp Out Hunger® Food Drive, the largest one-day food drive in the country, collecting non-perishable food donations along postal routes.

"This is an important year with many pantries and kitchens struggling to keep up with the increasing demand to feed families," said NALC Branch 999 President Tony Diaz.

"All of our letter carriers are excited for the opportunity to make a difference as we look to fill those empty shelves in Hillsborough County that is so desperately needed."

The local NALC has named Metropolitan Ministries as this year’s benefiting local nonprofit for the food drive, stating, "The decision to partner with Metro was an easy choice. Keeping the food in our community and being a big part of Metro’s wonderful work in the Tampa Bay area is important to us."

"This food drive could not have come at a better time,” said Metropolitan Ministries President and CEO Tim Marks.

"After providing two years of COVID relief and a demanding holiday season our shelves are nearly bare, and we need the community’s help to feed hungry families in the Tampa Bay area."

In 2019, NALC collected and donated 126,359 lbs. of food to Metropolitan Ministries that Marks says, "helped them greatly through the remainder of the year and into Metro’s holiday season."

All goods collected in Hillsborough neighborhoods will benefit families and individuals through the Inspire Hope hunger relief programs provided by Metropolitan Ministries. The public is encouraged to leave a sturdy bag containing non-perishable foods, such as canned soup, canned vegetables, canned meats and fish, pasta, rice or cereal next to their mailbox before the regular mail delivery on Saturday, May 14.

The food donations stay in each community, going to help local residents. A kickoff event will be held on May 11.

About me: Hello my name is Carlos Hernandez and I am a food writer with over 10 years of experience in the industry. I write the food blog Carlos Eats (http://www.carloseats.com) and also contribute to several newspapers and magazines with food-related blogs and articles.