This weekend, the National Association of Letter Carriers will kick off its annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive in Omaha to benefit five local food pantries. United Way of the Midlands is proud to partner with the National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 5 – along with Teamsters Local 554, Laborers Local 1140, Penske, the United States Postal Service and the Omaha Federation of Labor AFL-CIO – in asking for the public’s help in donating nonperishable food items to help feed those in need in our community.
Stamp Out Hunger begins this weekend and continues for the next week with letter carriers dropping off bags at homes across the metro. For homes that receive a bag, letter carriers will then collect all food donations that are bagged and left outside by 8 a.m. on Saturday, May 11.
“The members of the Omaha Federation of Labor are proud to partner with the National Association of Letter Carriers, United Way of the Midlands and the citizens of our community to collect food to help those who are in need of food assistance,” said Senator Mike McDonnell, president of the Omaha Federation of Labor AFL-CIO. “These donations will really help our neighbors in the Omaha metro.”
Letter carriers request that donors select nonperishable and unexpired food items, excluding items in glass containers, as they are easily broken. Most commonly needed items include peanut butter, canned fruits and vegetables, soup, tuna, cereal, pasta, oatmeal and boxed meals. All collected food will be delivered to Heartland Family Service, Salvation Army, Siena Francis, Stephen Center and St. Vincent de Paul for distribution to families and individuals seeking food assistance.
“Right now, food demand is increasing in the metro, and nearly 20% of residents often worry about running out of food,” said Shawna Forsberg, president and CEO, United Way of the Midlands. “And with many additional people being displaced due to the recent tornadoes, we are grateful for this partnership to assist those in our community who need help feeding their families.”
A Stamp Out Hunger press conference will also be held on Thursday, May 9, at 10 a.m., at the Teamsters Union Hall, 4349 S. 90th St., Omaha, NE 68127.
For more information about this year’s campaign, visit www.facebook.com/StampOutHunger.
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About United Way of the Midlands: For more than 100 years, United Way of the Midlands (UWM) has served the Omaha-Council Bluffs metro by bridging the business and not-for-profit sectors to create a Circle of Support that helps our neighbors overcome difficult challenges and start building a better future. UWM’s funded programs and direct services address social and economic disparities and meet families’ essential needs such as healthy food, safe and stable housing, physical and mental health services, career preparation and job training. Learn more at UnitedWayMidlands.org.