The Annual Letter Carriers’ food drive is Saturday, May 10

 by Bella Caggiano

Drivers on the streets of Norwood may see an unusual number of packages by many mailboxes, and no, they will not be from an extraordinary Amazon sale. On the second Saturday of May each year, rain or shine, Norwood residents leave marked bags of non-perishable food by their mailbox in the morning and mail carriers pick up the packages during their regular delivery routes for the 32nd Annual Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. Once gathered together, they transport them to the Norwood Food Pantry. This event is the largest one-day food drive in the country, and Norwood residents can directly be a part of this national campaign

The timing of the second Saturday in May is no accident. Local food banks and pantries best benefit by a mid-spring surge to replenish their diminishing shelves from the influx of donations received during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday seasons. 

Top 10 Most Needed Items Requested Now:​

Canned Soups (Vegetable and Chicken types, Tomato, Mushroom, etc.)

Cereals: Cold (small 11–14 ounce sizes) Frosted Flakes, Fruity Pebbles, Raisin Bran, Honey Bunches of Oats, Fruit Loops, Cheerios, etc.

Canned Fruit (Fruit Cocktail, Peaches, Pears, Mixed, etc.)

Canned Beef Stew, Hash, Chili with Meat, SPAM) 

White Rice (instant – small boxes)

Teas:  Regular, Decaf, Herbal, Green and Decaf Coffee (Instant and Ground types)

Boxed Rice Mixes (Rice Pilaf, Near East, Rice a Roni, any store brand etc.)

Macaroni and Cheese

Cocoa Mix (small boxes of 6 – 8 packets)

Spaghetti Sauce (small jars 24 -25-ounce)

Other “Always Needed” Popular Items

Canned White Albacore Tuna in water 

Boxed Pasta (ziti, penne, rigatoni, macaroni, shells, spaghetti, etc.)

Instant Mashed Potatoes

Chunky Peanut Butter (small jars)

Canned Beans (Black, Red, Chick, White, Baked, etc.)

Canned Pasta (Beefaroni, Beef Ravioli, any brand) 

Canned Vegetables (Peas, Carrots, Corn, etc.)

Jams/Jellies:  Raspberry, Marmalade, Grape, Strawberry, etc.

Crackers: Ritz, Townhouse, Saltines, Graham Crackers

Cookies/Snacks (Oreos, Chocolate Chip, Granola Bars)  

Instant Pudding Mix (chocolate or vanilla) and Gelatin (Strawberry, Cherry, Orange)

Canned Chicken (5-ounce cans or small pouches)

Pet Food: Dry cat or dog food (small 3-5 pounds). Canned food is also welcome.  

Hygiene Items (#6 Diapers, small dish/laundry detergent, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste)
are also gratefully accepted.

 The only requirement is that all cans and boxes must be new and in good condition. Anything outdated or opened has to be thrown away for health reasons. 

Norwood is one of 10,000 cities and towns across America taking part in the Letter Carriers’ Food Drive. The national effort began in 1991 with a pilot program of 10 cities and it proved so successful that plans began almost immediately to make the drive a national effort. The first national drive was May 15, 1993, and included 220 union branches. At the end of the day, an impressive 11 million pounds of food was collected; a one-day record in the United States!

Any donation, large or small is greatly appreciated. All it takes is a quick scan of your pantry or cupboard to collect a few items, and place them in a marked bag by the mailbox the morning of Saturday, May 10. In the three decades of this event, approximately 1.9 billion pounds of food has been collected for those in need through the generosity of neighbors, just one can at a time.

Contributing to those with food insecurities is as easy in May as mailing a letter…from the comfort of your own home. 

The Norwood Ecumenical Food Pantry is located behind the Grace Episcopal, 150 Chapel St. Direct donations can be made Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-12 noon or inside the Norwood Stop & Shop. For more information on Stamp Out Hunger, visit www.facebook.com/StampOutHunger or the Norwood Food Pantry, visit www.norwoodpantry.org/.