Kyler Matthews assists a client at the East Texas Food Bank Tyler Resource Center on Jan. 10, 2024. ETFB CEO David Emerson said, “if funding continues to be cut, this could severely restrict our ability to meet current demand.” (Les Hassell/Tyler Morning Telegraph File Photo)

The National Letter Carrier’s will hold their 32nd annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive to benefit food banks and pantries across the nation on Saturday, May 11.

The food drive will benefit all 26 counties served by the East Texas Food Bank. Since launching in 1993, the National Association of Letter Carriers’ annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive has grown into the nation’s largest one-day food drive, helping to fill the shelves of food banks in cities and towns throughout the United States.

The need is great, but community members can help. Residents are invited to join letter carriers and partner organizations in the fight to end hunger in our communities by participating in the annual drive.

“Simply leave your donation of non-perishable food in a grocery bag near your mailbox on Saturday by 8 a.m. and your letter carrier will do the rest. People can donate items such as peanut butter, canned meat, canned vegetables, cereal, rice, juice, etc.,” the United States Postal Service states on its website.

In East Texas, 188,530 people face food insecurity. The rate of food insecurity is 14.8% in the region, higher than the rate statewide which is 13.7%, according to Feeding America.

Some counties face higher rates of food insecurity. In San Augustine County, 21.1% of the population faces food insecurity and 79% live below the federal poverty line. This is higher than Smith County, which has a food insecurity rate of 12.9%.

In Gregg County, the rate of food insecurity is higher than Smith where 15.1% of the population face food insecurity. In Upshur County, 72% live below the federal poverty line and 16.3% face food insecurity, according to Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap.

To find your local food bank, visit https://www.nalc.org/community-service/food-drive/find-your-food-bank.

The East Texas Food Bank has resource centers located in Lufkin, Tyler, Longview and Texarkana. For more information on the East Texas Food Bank, visit https://www.easttexasfoodbank.org/.