Stamp Out Hunger, the nation’s largest
single-day food drive, was held Saturday, May
14, 2011. The annual food drive is conducted by the National Association
of Letter Carriers, and House of Hope is the primary recipient
in Martin County.
More than 100 volunteers helped to sort and
transport the food. You can see the progress of the monumental
sorting effort at House of Hope by clicking the video below:
The drive brought in about 80,000 pounds of
food to House of Hope this year, down from about 90,000 from
last year's drive. That quantity will last three to four months.
This food drive fills a critical need
for House of Hope, which is Martin County’s food bank. Last
year, the agency provided more than 152 tons of food – the
equivalent of about 237,000 meals – to Martin County
residents in need. One third of this amount feeds hungry
children. The Stamp Out Hunger drive helps as we enter the
summer months, when many children no longer have the benefit
of their school lunch program.
House of Hope’s programs – providing
food, clothing, household items, financial assistance and
case management -- provide temporary assistance to families
during personal crises beyond their control. In addition to
young families and children, the food program also serves
many fixed-income senior citizens on a regular basis.
Esther Brito, House of Hope's assistant director, with Doug
Schlopp, local representative of the National Association of
Letter Carriers.
