Every year, on the second Saturday in May, letter carriers across the country collect non-perishable food items from area residents and donate the items to local food banks as part of the nation’s largest one-day food drive. Taking place this Saturday, May 11, this year’s collection marks the 27th anniversary of the National Association of Letter Carrier’s “Stamp Out Hunger” Food Drive.
Wilton’s Post Office will once again participate in the food drive. Person-to-Person, with food pantries in Darien and Norwalk, will be the beneficiary of all food donated by Wilton residents, along with those from Darien and Norwalk.
In addition, carrying on the tradition of Wilton High School students volunteering on the day of the food drive, Wilton students will once again help out, according to outgoing executive director and Wilton resident Ceci Maher.
“[We’re] so happy to have the Class of 2022 come to Norwalk to help Person-to-Person on Saturday with the Postal Food Drive–they are keeping up a WHS freshman year tradition. Look at this shot (below) of the Class of 2019 back in their freshman year.”
With 9% of Fairfield County households living below the poverty level – and another 23% struggling to afford the basic needs of food, clothing and shelter – hunger and food insecurity is a real issue facing many area residents. Person-to-Person provides food to more than 1,500 households each month.
The drive comes at a critical time for Person-to-Person and helps keep the pantry shelves stocked during the summer months, when the need for food assistance increases for families, with children not receiving free or reduced meals at school during the summer break. Items such hearty soups, cereal, peanut butter, jelly, pasta, sauce, canned tuna and rice are most needed.
Wilton residents are asked to leave a reusable bag of non-perishable food by their mailboxes on the morning of Saturday, May 11.