Last year, the Minneapolis-St. Paul area’s “Stamp Out Hunger” drive collected more than one million pounds of food. And this year the need is even greater, reports Pam Donato, president of NALC Branch 9 in Minneapolis.

“We need your help. Children are going hungry,” said Mike Zagaros, Branch 9 executive vice president.

“It’s really simple, put the food out” by your mailbox Saturday morning May 8, Donato urged.

Earlier in the week, your letter carrier will leave a blue plastic bag in your mailbox. Place canned food items or other non-perishable unopened food items in the bag and leave it outside by your mailbox for your letter carrier to pick up.

“Something that’s so simple just got more simple,” Donato added. This year, you can make a donation to the food drive by texting the word “hunger” to 27722. Your cell phone bill will show a $5 charge, which will be donated to the food drive — and will buy $45 worth of food.

Or, you can donate online at www.stampouthunger.2harvest.org.

Visit the same website if you’d like to volunteer to help letter carriers load semi-trailers at Cub Foods locations in the metro area. You can sign up for a volunteer shift near you on-line.

“We do still need volunteers,” Donato reported.

“The food we collect in Minneapolis-St. Paul… all gets moved to local food shelves,” Donato reported. So your donation will help neighbors in your community. More than 1,000 NALC branches across the United States will participate in this year’s 18th annual “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive.

Steve Share edits the Labor Review, the official publication of the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation. Learn more at www.minneapolisunions.org