(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) – In all the years WNYLaborToday.com has interviewed National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 3 President David Grosskopf, Jr. on the annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, he had never before shared his personal story as to why the event is so important not only to him - but to so many across Western New York who are in need.

On Saturday (May 9th), Branch 3-represented Letter Carriers across the eight-county Western New York Region will pick up donations of non-perishable foods during the day while, at the same time, delivering thousands and thousands of letters and packages to their customers.

Last year, NALC Letter Carriers picked up 425,925 pounds of food - 168,725 pounds more than the previous year, which placed Buffalo-Western New York in third place among NALC Branches with 1,999 or more Members.

And with homelessness across the region rising to what is being reported locally as the most severe crisis in decades (homelessness increased by 24% to the highest level recorded since tracking began in 2025, local media reported this week), the need now is even greater.

Grosskopf (Pictured Above/WNYLaborToday.com Photo) - whose Branch 3 represents more than 2,000 Members, shared a personal story with Your On-Line Labor Newspaper that occurred while growing up and after his Father lost a very good-paying job at Roblin Steel in Tonawanda when it closed in the mid-60s.

“My Dad ‘had a very difficult time finding a new job,’” Grosskopf said, “and ‘I vividly remember going to our church’s food bank and getting jars of peanut butter and bread.’ ‘We were tightening our belts and it really gave (he and his family) a different perspective’ (to food insecurity).”

Grosskopf is extremely proud of his Union’s Membership for what they do in the community, including the annual food drive: “Our Members ‘are out in the community and they see those who are less fortunate and those who aren’t doing as well as themselves.’ ‘Every day they see why people need this kind of help.’ ‘As Public Servants, we see the need for this safety net - and in all honesty, we should be ones doing this.’ I ‘bounce around a number of different stations (during the Saturday drop offs) and I do get goosebumps.’ ‘I see a lot of smiles and we all feel good about what we are doing - especially when you talk to those who run the small food banks because what they receive from Stamp Out Hunger helps them get through the entire year.’”

Since its launch in 1993, NALC’s Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive has grown into the Nation’s largest one-day food drive, helping fill the shelves of food banks in cities and towns across the country.

On Saturday, NALC asks you leave your donation of non-perishable food in a bag near your mailbox and your Letter Carrier will do the rest.

Grosskopf suggests boxes of pasta and “anything canned,” but asks all to “please check expiration dates.”

NALC’s effort to help fight hunger in America grew out of discussions in 1991 by a number of leaders at the time, including NALC President Vincent Sombrotto, National AFL-CIO Community Services Director Joseph Velasquez and Postmaster General Anthony Frank.

A pilot drive was held in 10 cities in October of 1991 and it proved so successful that work began immediately on making it a nationwide effort.

Input from Food Banks and pantries suggested late Spring would be the best time because most Food Banks start running out of the donations received during the Thanksgiving and Christmas Holiday periods by that point in the year.

A revamped drive was organized for May 15th, 1993 - the second Saturday in May - with a goal of having at least one NALC Branch in each of the 50 States participating.

The result was astounding, NALC Officials said.

More than 11 million pounds of food was collected - a one-day record in the U.S. - involving more than 220 Union Branches.

From Alaska to Florida and Maine to Hawaii, Letter Carriers do double duty - delivering mail and picking up donations.

From that point, Stamp Out Hunger grew and grew.

In the more than 30 years since it began, Stamp Out Hunger has collected around two billion pounds of food for those in need. 

Over the years, Buffalo/Western New York has historically held either one of the top three spots in donated food collected and Grosskopf anticipates another round of tremendous donations on Saturday, with a little help from Organized Labor.

“We have a ‘long history here in Western New York of being one of the best in the Nation,’” Grosskopf said. “And this event ‘is right at the top, for me because it is near and dear to my heart’ (for the personal reasons he shared earlier with WNYLaborToday.com).”