Help restock local food shelves: Central Oregon’s Stamp Out Hunger event is back

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Central Oregon residents can help address local food insecurity by participating in the National Association of Letter Carriers' annual Stamp Out Hunger® Food Drive on Saturday, May 9, 2026. The community effort encourages individuals to place non-perishable food donations next to their mailboxes for collection by local letter carriers.

Donations collected during the drive will restock local food shelves through NeighborImpact's Food Bank, serving an urgent need as federal commodity food supplies have declined across the region.

The annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive is the largest one-day food drive in the United States, held each year on the second Saturday in May. Since becoming a national initiative in 1993, the drive has collected more than 1.94 billion pounds of food for communities across the country.

In Central Oregon, the event comes at a critical time for NeighborImpact's Food Bank, which continues to manage high levels of food need. The collected food will be distributed to individuals and families through the region's emergency food network.

NeighborImpact's network provides food assistance to more than 80,000 people monthly. Last year, the organization provided more than 6.3 million pounds of food through direct distributions and via 57 partner agencies.

Rachel Haakenson, spokesperson for NeighborImpact, emphasized the collective impact of individual contributions. "Stamp Out Hunger gives every household a simple way to help meet a very real need," Haakenson said. "A bag of food left by a mailbox may feel like a small act, but when thousands of neighbors participate, it becomes a major source of support for families across Central Oregon."

Residents are asked to donate shelf-stable, non-perishable foods such as peanut butter, canned tuna, canned fruit, cereal, oats, rice, pasta, canned vegetables and soup. Donors should avoid including expired food items and glass containers.

Letter carriers in Bend, Madras, Prineville and Redmond will collect donations during their regular routes. Haakenson highlighted their vital role in the effort. "Letter carriers make this event possible," Haakenson said. "They are already serving every neighborhood in the region and on May 9, they will do even more—collecting food that stays local and helps keep pantry shelves stocked."

For those unable to donate food, monetary contributions can be made at neighborimpact.org/donate. Financial donations enable NeighborImpact to purchase and distribute food where it is most needed.

Residents should watch their mail for a postcard reminder providing local participation details and donation guidance for the upcoming drive.