32nd Annual USPS Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive a big success
To the editor:
The 32nd Annual USPS Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive took place on Saturday, May 10, 2025. As many of you may know, the USPS food drive on Pine Island directly benefits the Pine Island Food Pantry, which as of this writing services 293 families in need on the island. This year’s drive yielded 4,559.58 pounds of non-perishable items that will be distributed to the community in the coming weeks. This was a significant increase from last year’s 1,657.89 pounds, and 920 pounds in 2023, one year post Hurricane Ian.
I’m very proud to say that our community has really stepped up this year. Our hope is that we are trending back in the right direction prior to Ian and COVID when our donations often exceeded 6,000 pounds. As the numbers show, we clearly are on the right path.
I would like to thank all the carrier union members of the Post Office that contributed their time and effort to this year’s drive. Special thanks to Steve Camancho, who coordinates the event in our area of Lee County, as well as Bokeelia’s Interim Postmaster Danyale Goss and St. James City’s Interim Postmaster Kerry Cannedy.
This event could not be a success without all the volunteer help that comes out for the day to help weigh, sort and organize all the donations. A very special thanks to the Matlacha Hookers, who provide more then half of the volunteers needed for the day year after year. I would also like to thank the Pine Island Food Pantry staff for all their help as well.
Lastly, a big thanks to all the people in the community that donated the food that was collected. Without your contributions events like this one would not be possible.
Guy D’Alessio
Pine Island Food Pantry
USPS Stamp out Hunger Coordinator