The 18th annual "Stamp Out Hunger" Food Drive took place May 8.
Kosciusko County citizens were asked to join the entire nation and "hang a bag of food, for the hungry."
Post offices in Warsaw, Winona Lake, Claypool, Silver Lake and Milford were able to collect 11,200 pounds of food during this one-day event.Local letter carriers, in conjunction with The United Way of Kosciusko County, Campbell's Soup Company, and Kosciusko residents participated in the annual "Stamp Out Hunger" food drive. This is the largest one-day, national food drive; and the event encouraged all community members to participate and donate food in order to make a difference in hungry people's lives.
Last year, 11,758 pounds of food items were collected and distributed to local emergency pantries to replenish depleted supplies, here in Kosciusko County. The community's largest donation year was in 2005 when 14,500 pounds were collected.
Residents placed bags of non-perishable food items such as canned goods, cereal and rice into bags and attached it to their mailbox. The carriers did the rest.
The food was taken to the post office and was divided between five countywide emergency food providers in Kosciusko County. The local food pantries are: Salvation Army, Combined Community Services, Mary & Jerry's Helping Hands, Our Father's House and Heartline Pregnancy Center. Baby food and diapers, which were collected, went to Heartline Pregnancy Center for children in need.
