Most people are aware of individuals currently dealing with food scarcity. Approximately 41 million Americans, including children, seniors and Veterans, struggle with hunger every single day, according to the non-profit organization Feeding America.

A more in-depth look at the numbers are even more alarming: households with children are more likely to be food insecure than those without children, 5.4 million seniors struggled to afford enough to eat in 2016 and an estimated sixty percent of the worlds hungry are women or girls.

To help thwart those statistics, thousands of Southwest Virginia residents participated in the nation’s largest single-day food drive last Saturday, May 12. Around 10 a.m., people started gathering at the Salem Civic Center to organize boxes, filter through non-perishable food items and do whatever else was required.

“As a father, I think that it’s important to instill in my children an understanding that being active in the community is part of their civic responsibility. That is why I took them to volunteer at the local canned food drive,” Representative Morgan Griffith said. “Local food banks, churches and service organizations are some of the best ways to help the less fortunate right in your own community.”

Jenny McCormick, Executive Director of the Salem Food Pantry, said, “When we care about others, we are really helping ourselves. Hunger and poor nutrition can be long-term health and financial detriments to families.”

The first Letter Carrier Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive took place in 1991. Since then, the Salem Food Pantry has been able to serve between 400 and 500 families every month.

“I believe that every child should have the opportunity to receive healthy food throughout the year, regardless of their economic background,” volunteer Martha Adams said. “I also believe that it is our responsibility as community members and neighbors to take care of our own. You never know when you could be in need of assistance.”

As a child, Malik Hale regularly went to bed hungry. The Roanoke County native credits his mother, Ashlee Hale, a single parent who worked three jobs to support her family, for instilling strong values in him.

“I vividly remember having little to no food in the refrigerator. It was tough, but my mom always found a way,” he said. “She raised me to never take anything for granted and be thankful for whatever you have as it could always be worst.”

Hundreds of area students will be affected by school meal programs being suspended from June through August, something that many locals are fully aware of.

“People can easily fall on hard times. When that happens, kids go through it along with their parents,” Angela Demars, a city letter carrier, said. “A little help can go a long way in helping someone get back on their feet. Being the beneficiary of donated food can be one less stress on a family or individual.”

Every bit of the approximately 23,000 pounds of food collected last Saturday will be weighed and distributed to the Salem Food Pantry.

“Every year I am personally humbled and affected by the amount of love and caring that the City of Salem constantly offers. I’m fortunate to serve this community,” Dale Martin, National Association of Letter Carriers Branch Vice President, said. “Those who didn’t attend Saturday’s event can still make a difference in the community.”

For more information, visit salemfoodpantry.org or call 540-389-6938.