New Phila Post Office helps Stamp Out Hunger

On the second Saturday in May, letter carriers across the nation will mobilize to combat hunger through the annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. The National Association of Letter Carriers and the United States Postal Service will collect food donations that will directly assist families facing food insecurity May 10.

Laurie Tromerhauser, the coordinator for this year’s event and a representative of the New Philadelphia Post Office, expressed her commitment to the cause.

“This is very near to my heart because I know a lot of people really are struggling to make ends meet, and no one should be hungry,” Tromerhauser said.

The New Philadelphia Post Office has participated in this food drive for three decades. It has historically provided support to local families in need, especially during the summer months when kids are home from school. During this time many families experience heightened difficulties in providing nutritious meals, as reliance on school meal programs diminishes.

Tromerhauser said many families face struggles in the summertime, and the drive helps to fill the gap left by dwindling community support during these months.

“Many people donate during the bigger holidays, like Thanksgiving and Christmas,” she said, recognizing the importance of those efforts. However, this drive serves to address food needs during summer, a time when food pantries often run low on supplies.

“Community food pantries can see a decline in donations just when families need extra assistance, particularly with children home from school,” she said.

Preparations for the upcoming drive continue, and community involvement is vital to its success. The New Philadelphia Post Office aims to collect nonperishable food items that will directly benefit local pantries and families in need.

Items such as canned goods, peanut butter, pasta and various staples are on the donation list. Tromerhauser said any contribution, no matter how small, can make a real difference.

“Our campaign has always been ‘Fill a bag, feed a family.’ I believe just one can per mailbox could yield significant results,” she said.

In addition to collecting donations from mailboxes, the community is encouraged to participate in person. On May 10 The Salvation Army canteen vehicle will park at the New Philadelphia Post Office, providing individuals an opportunity to drop off food donations directly.

While the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive is a national initiative, its true effectiveness lies in the local community’s ability to come together. Each post office operates the drive independently, tailoring efforts to fit the needs of their specific area. Tromerhauser said some smaller rural post offices may choose to forgo participation due to lack of local resources, but the New Philadelphia office has consistently risen to the challenge for 30 years.

The ongoing challenges faced by families during this economically challenging time underscores the importance of the food drive. Tromerhauser has a unique perspective on the issue, having started her journey at the post office in 2003 as a single mother raising three young children. She recalls the days when even small acts of kindness, like someone leaving out a single bag of food donations, could mean the world to her family.

“I remember gathering bags of food left out by my customers and thinking about how much taking even that one bag home would have made a difference to my kids,” she said.

Local organizations and businesses also are encouraged to rally behind the drive, amplifying efforts to ensure a successful collection of donations. Whether through promoting the event on social media, displaying flyers or encouraging employees to participate, community buy-in is essential. Every effort, no matter how small, helps shine a light on this issue.

Visit www.NALC.org.