There’s something quietly powerful about a mailbox moment, and across Mesa and the East Valley, that moment is about to pull some serious weight. United Food Bank is once again teaming up with the National Association of Letter Carriers for the 34th annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive, returning Saturday, May 9, and turning everyday mail routes into something much bigger.
The concept is refreshingly simple. Residents are asked to place non-perishable food donations next to their mailboxes before 8 a.m. Letter carriers will scoop them up during their usual routes and begin delivering everything to post offices by 4 p.m., where the donations are sorted and sent off to local food banks, including United Food Bank. No extra errands, no drop-off lines, just one small move that makes a real impact.
Organized nationally by the National Association of Letter Carriers, Stamp Out Hunger rolls out every second Saturday in May across more than 10,000 communities. Since launching in 1992, it has collected over 1.9 billion pounds of food, earning its title as the largest single-day food drive in the country. Not bad for something that starts at your mailbox.
For United Food Bank, this isn’t just another date on the calendar. It’s a critical boost ahead of the summer months, when demand climbs and donations tend to dip. Last year alone, the organization brought in 55,114 pounds of food through the drive, helping keep shelves stocked across eastern Arizona.
Founded in 1983 and a member of Feeding America, United Food Bank serves more than 130,000 Arizonans each month across five counties. Its mission to unite communities and alleviate hunger comes into sharp focus here, where collective action meets real, immediate need.
“The number of Arizonans experiencing hunger and food insecurity continues to rise, and 2026 is proving to be no exception,” says United Food Bank’s CEO Jason Reed. “We are grateful to once again be a beneficiary of the Stamp Out Hunger food drive. Thank you to the National Association of Letter Carriers, our dedicated postal workers, and the entire Arizona community for continuing to show up for our neighbors in need.”
What makes this effort stand out is how effortlessly it fits into real life. No sign-ups. No complicated logistics. Just a bag by the mailbox and a community that knows how to show up when it counts.
Insider Takeaways
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Stamp Out Hunger returns Saturday, May 9, with donations requested before 8 a.m.
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Letter carriers collect food during their routes and begin delivery to post offices by 4 p.m.
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The drive spans more than 10,000 communities and is the nation’s largest single-day food collection effort.
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United Food Bank received 55,114 pounds of donations from the drive last year. The organization serves over 130,000 Arizonans each month across five counties.
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The May timing helps stock shelves ahead of high-demand summer months when donations typically decline.
To learn more, visit unitedfoodbank.org or nalc.org/community-service/food-drive.
