OUR VIEW: You can stamp out hunger in Odessa

If you see your postal carrier on Saturday carrying a heavier load than usual you should pat them on the back and give them a big “thank you.”

This year’s 26th annual Stamp Out Hunger drive is this Saturday where Odessans are asked to fill a bag with nonperishable food item that are picked up by postal carriers and delivered to the West Texas Food Bank.

The event is a worthwhile bit of effort by these postal carriers.

Libby Campbell, executive director of the West Texas Food Bank, encourages all West Texans to lend a hand and said it is the largest one day food drive in West Texas.

Campbell, who is a force to be reckoned with in terms of feeding the hungry, said all of this food “will help your hungry neighbors.” She said we are coming into the busiest time of the year and that this food drive helps make sure the food bank is full. She said some students will no longer get two meals a day in school and that seniors on a fixed income are facing higher rents and utilities this summer.

That means that when something has to be cut out of the budget it could be food.

The West Texas Food Bank (WTFB) is a nonprofit, non-governmental hunger relief organization. It is the largest collaborative nonprofit agency in the Permian Basin, and distributed donated and purchased food to children, families, and seniors through a network of more than 70 Partner Agencies in 19 counties across 34,000 square miles in West Texas.

That’s a lot of canned goods and fresh food.

We salute Campbell and her team and also the postal carriers who will work hard this Saturday to do their part to end hunger in our area.

We also salute Odessans who choose to help out in this worthy endeavor. Just place your nonperishable foods, preferably protein rich items like peanut butter, or canned meats like chicken or fish. Then leave those those bags for the postal carriers who will deliver them to the food bank.

Odessans can also choose to lend a hand to sort and pack all that food this Saturday during the “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive.

A post event food truck rally is planned at the offices of Sims and Guess Realtors. From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and food trucks and jumpers will be available. The WTFB will be on hand collecting food as well.

It’s easy to help and so rewarding. Do you part and help — and if you see a postal carrier be sure to thank them.

What to Do
  • What: Stamp Out Hunger food drive.
  • When: Saturday.
  • What to do: Contact the West Texas Food Bank to volunteer or donate by filling a bag with food items and leave it for your postal carrier.