MARION COUNTY, FL (352today.com) – Residents across Marion County are encouraged to participate in the annual “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive on May 9, a nationwide effort to collect food for local families in need.
Organized by the National Association of Letter Carriers, the event has been held for more than 30 years and partners locally with Interfaith Emergency Services to distribute donations throughout the community.
Participants can take part by placing nonperishable food items in a bag and leaving it by their mailbox on the morning of Saturday, May 9. Letter carriers and volunteers will collect the donations along their routes and deliver them to Interfaith Emergency Services.
Officials ask that donors avoid glass containers and instead provide shelf-stable items such as canned goods, pasta, rice and boxed foods.
Interfaith Emergency Services supports approximately 500 households each week in Marion County, making the annual drive a critical source of food for those in need. Organizers emphasize that all donations collected locally stay within the county.
Interfaith Emergency Services is based in Ocala at 435 NW Second St., with its main campus serving as a hub for food distribution and support services.
In addition to donating food, residents can help by spreading the word through community groups, workplaces, churches and social media. Monetary donations are also accepted through Interfaith Emergency Services.
For more information or to contribute financially, visit Interfaith Emergency Services’ website.