One day. Every mailbox. Tens of thousands of pounds of food headed straight to local pantry shelves. We sit down with Lynn Staggs from The Storehouse, Emily Sherlin from the Salvation Army, Anthony Acosta from Interfaith Assistance Ministry, and Arcavia from the Postal Service to explain how the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive works in Henderson County and why it matters more than ever right now.

We get specific about the “how” so you can confidently participate: what to leave out (canned goods and other non-perishable foods), what to skip (no glass, nothing expired, nothing perishable), and why items like peanut butter, rice, pasta, and kid-friendly snacks become lifelines when school lets out. Arcadia shares the scope of the National Association of Letter Carriers drive and why reaching every address makes this the largest one-day food drive in the country.

Then we zoom in on the “why.” Rising grocery prices, fuel costs, housing pressure, and ongoing Hurricane Helene recovery are pushing more neighbors to seek emergency food assistance, including seniors on fixed incomes and larger families. We also walk through the behind-the-scenes operation: carriers collecting donations, volunteers unloading trucks mid-route, totes and pallets at the annex, and days of sorting and date-checking before food goes back out to the community.

If you care about hunger relief in Hendersonville and across Western North Carolina, this conversation gives you a clear way to help on May 9 and a better understanding of what local food pantries face every week. Subscribe for more local community stories, share this with a friend, and leave a quick review to help more neighbors find the show.