Once again, the National Association of Letter Carriers and the US Postal Service will host Stamp Out Hunger, the nation’s largest single-day food drive, today.

AARP and AARP Foundation are the sponsors. Together, we can make a big difference by donating non-perishable food items that will help many of our friends and neighbors. One person going hungry in Maine is one person too many.

Last year, an AARP Foundation report revealed that hunger among older Americans has jumped nearly 80 percent in just 10 years. In each of the categories measured in the report, Maine fared poorly when compared to other New England states. In some cases, Maine had the worst statistics for the entire Northeast region.

Today, letter carriers across the country will collect non-perishable food donations from their postal customers at the same time as they deliver the mail. (Food also can be dropped off at local post offices.)

The letter carriers — in some cases with the help of volunteers — will deliver these donations to a local food bank or pantry.

This is a terrific and easy way to help those in need in every community across the state. Together, we can stamp out hunger in Maine.

Erica Magnus

AARP Outreach Volunteer

Windham