On May 9, our community came together for the annual National Association of Letter Carriers’ #StampOutHunger Food Drive, the largest one-day food drive in the country, and what an incredible day it was!
Each year, residents are invited to simply leave a bag of nonperishable food near their mailbox before mail delivery. From there, our local letter carriers do the heavy lifting—literally—collecting donations along their routes and ensuring they make their way to neighbors in need. All the food gathered from the White Bear Lake, Vadnais Heights/Shoreview, and Circle Pines post offices was delivered directly to the White Bear Area Food Shelf.
This year, the response was nothing short of extraordinary.
Together, we collected 32,000 pounds of food—shattering last year’s record of 24,000 pounds.
Behind every yellow bag placed at a mailbox was a generous neighbor, and behind every pound of food collected was a shared commitment to care for our community.
For the letter carriers who witness this outpouring firsthand, the day holds a special place in their hearts:
- “It’s my favorite day! I just love seeing all the bags and the generous neighbors.”
- “I have usually been most concerned about seniors not having enough food, but lately I’ve become more aware of kids in need.”
- “It was crazy to see so many yellow bags—almost overwhelming. In a good way.”
Once the food arrived, another dedicated group stepped in. A total of 122 volunteers gave 337 hours to carefully inspect every single item checking for quality and expiration dates to ensure everything is safe and ready for the shelves. It was a massive undertaking, with volunteers handling thousands of cans, boxes, and bags one by one. Because of their care and attention, items are now sorted, organized, and prepared for distribution to neighbors in the weeks ahead.
This effort is about more than numbers—it’s about making sure families, seniors, and children in our own community have access to the food they need. Events like Stamp Out Hunger remind us just how powerful a simple act can be when we all participate.
To everyone who donated, volunteered, or helped spread the word: thank you for helping make a difference—right where we live.
