The Kansas Food Bank and Barton County Food Bank are gearing up for the annual Letter Carriers’ “Stamp Out Hunger” Food Drive, which will take place on Saturday, May 11.     

This is the largest one-day food drive held across the United States to assist local food banks and their pantry partners. Letter carriers see the struggles in the communities they serve, and believe that it is important to do what they can to help. 

Letter Carriers in Great Bend will deliver special blue bags, courtesy of Hampel Oil, to mailboxes across the community. Residents are encouraged to fill the bags with items that will be donated to the local pantry. Specific items requested this year include canned fruits and vegetables, peanut butter, canned beans, tuna or other canned meats and meal-in-one items such as soup, stew or chili.  

“The Letter Carriers’ Food Drive is very important for the Community Food Bank of Barton County in that it comes at a time when our donations are slower and with children getting out of school our needs are great,” said Bob Essmiller of the Barton County Food Bank. “The Letter Carriers and their families deserve a huge heartfelt ‘thank you’ for all of their hard work.” 

The timing of this food drive is important, with food banks and pantries running low on donations from the winter holidays. With summer approaching and kids out of school, the demand for food will increase.

The communities of Claflin, Hoisington and Ohmitz are also participating collecting food for their local pantries.