LAKEPORT — On Saturday, May 12, letter carriers will do more than deliver mail. While they walk and drive along their postal routes they will also collect bags of food left at mailboxes for distribution to local food banks, pantries and shelters. This 15th annual effort is the largest one-day food drive in the nation.
The effort is made by postal workers represented by the National Association of Letter Carriers (AFL-CIO) in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands — with the help of some rural letter carriers, other postal employees and thousands of volunteers across the U.S. The collection and deliveries will result in more than 3/4 of a billion pounds of non-perishable donated food.
All citizens need to do is place a box or can of non-perishable food next to their mailboxes before their letter carrier delivers mail on Saturday. The carrier will do the rest. Donations are taken back to a postal station, sorted, and then delivered to an area food bank or pantry, where it is available for needy families. If you did not receive a postcard in the mail announcing the drive, you can check with your local post office to see if it is participating or visit www.stampouthunger.com.
An estimated 30 million people face hunger every day in America, including more than 12 million children.
