The Stamp Out Hunger food drive takes place each year on the second Saturday in May, it will be held on May 9, 2026 during regular mail delivery hours.
Letter carriers across Iowa and the nation are taking part in the annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive, a large-scale effort to help stock local food pantries with nonperishable items.
Throughout the day, postal workers collect donated food left by residents at mailboxes or at the end of driveways during regular mail delivery. Community members are encouraged to place items such as canned goods, pasta, rice, and other shelf-stable foods in a bag clearly visible for pickup.
For those unable to leave donations at their mailbox, many local post offices also accept drop-off contributions. These items are then combined with route collections and delivered to nearby food assistance programs.
The nationwide effort is coordinated by the National Association of Letter Carriers in partnership with the United States Postal Service. Since its start in 1993, the program has grown into the largest single-day food drive in the country, collecting billions of pounds of food for families in need.
The annual event continues to highlight the role of postal workers in supporting communities beyond mail delivery, helping ensure local food shelves remain stocked throughout the year.
