‘Stamp Out Hunger’ scheduled for May 9
The 2026 Stamp Out Hunger food drive will be held Saturday May 9 in Sedalia.
The NALC said the annual event is the nation’s largest one-day food drive.
Last year the event generated 9096 pounds for local food banks.
This year’s recipient will be Open Door Service Center, and many Open Door volunteers will be helping out on May 9. Many have already helped fold 14,000 blue bags in anticipation of the food drive for non-perishable goods.
The blue bags will arrive in your mailbox earlier in the week so you can participate.
The National Association of Letter Carriers, West Central Missouri Branch # 139 will be picking donations as they make their rounds on May 9, as well as the Open Door volunteers, working in two shifts.
Open Door Events Coordinator Debra Andresen said that the "Stamp Out" food drive really helps build up supplies for the summer months, when donations to the food bank typically taper off.
“We’re just asking the community to help make a difference in local families that are facing food insecurities,” Andresen said, adding that donated food in the blue bags may be set down by their mailbox on the morning of May 9.
In 2024, approximately 13.7% of U.S. households (18.3 million) were food insecure, meaning they struggled to access adequate food due to limited resources, with 5.4% (7.2 million) experiencing "very low food security," a severe, disruption of eating patterns. This crisis impacts over 47 million people, including roughly 14 million children.
The Stamp Out Hunger food drive has been in existence for 32 years. It started as a pilot program in 1991 and became a nationwide effort in 1993. The first nationwide food drive was in 1993. The drive is always held on the second Saturday in May.
