On Saturday, May 11th, the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) will be collecting food donations placed at mailboxes for its annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive.
Matt Hovious, NALC Branch 828 member and Stamp Out Hunger volunteer, got involved as a way to help his union and the community at large. Each year, he has been one of thousands of volunteer mail carriers distributing food to those in need along their daily routes, but this year has stepped up to help organize the event here in Monroe County. “Stamp Out Hunger is a way for me to give back because I know I have it really well and it’s a way for me to contribute back to the community and the people around me who may be going through tough times,” continues Hovious. “It’s how I show my appreciation and how I teach my kids to be generous and try to help those in need.”
Hovious shared that the work to make this event happen is a continuous effort. “It’s put on by our union and a couple organizations, like Hoosier Hills Food Bank and United Way,” says Hovious. “They’re doing things year-round preparing for the second Saturday in May – I’ve seen it firsthand. It’s being spoken about even in November. I didn’t realize until I got more involved. By July we’re already coming up with new ways to make it even more successful than it was a year before!”
When asked what motivates the National Association of Letter Carriers to put this event on, regardless of weather, each year, Hovious said, “We do it because it’s the right thing to do. It’s something I hope, if I was in need, somebody would do for me.”