This year’s Stamp Out Hunger food drive, scheduled for May 9, has been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. A new date has not been announced.
The National Association of Letter Carriers, which leads the annual one-day drive in which Postal Service employees collect food donations for local pantries, announced the decision last week.
“Much of the United States is currently under shelter in place or similar advisories due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and public health authorities such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have issued guidelines that include social distancing,” the association said in a statement. “While it is unknown how long these guidelines will remain in place, it is highly unlikely that those involved in the food drive will be able to safely participate just six weeks from now.”
USPS employees collected 75.7 million pounds of food during last year’s food drive, the third-highest total in the campaign’s 27-year history.
The pandemic has also prompted the cancellation of several stamp dedication ceremonies and this year’s National Postal Forum.