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Schutte: NALC Food Drive
Postal Carriers 01

From Yvonne Schutte

National Association of Letter Carriers, (608) 293-9686

To the Editor:

Saturday, May 10th marks the 33rd annual National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) stamp out hunger food drive. Each year on the second Saturday in May, letter carriers across the country collect non-perishable food donations from our customers. We ask our customers to place food donations by their mailboxes that Saturday and your carrier will pick up the food. The food that each carrier collects here in Monroe will be donated to the Green County Food Pantry. Any customers that receive plastic bags in their mail are encouraged to use those bags. However, there is a change for this year: If you live on a rural route (if your carrier uses one of the little Metris mini-vans, or their own personal vehicle), your carrier will NOT be picking up food. If you still wish to donate, you can write a check directly to the Green County Food Pantry or bring your food into the Post Office. We are really sorry for any inconvenience that this causes. 

The need for food donations is great. Currently, 1 in 6 Americans are unsure where their next meal is coming from. Children in these household feel hunger’s impact on their overall health and ability to perform in school. Also, nearly 3 million seniors over the age of 65 must deal with hunger as well, with many who live on fixed incomes often too embarrassed to ask for help.

Our food drive’s timing is pivotal as well. Food banks and pantries often receive the majority of their donations during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday seasons. By springtime, many pantries’ food supplies are depleted, entering the summer low on food supplies at a time many school breakfast and lunch programs are not available.

Participating in this year’s Letter Carriers Food Drive is simple. Just leave a non-perishable food donation in your mailbox on Saturday, May 10th and your letter carrier will pick it up and get to the LOCAL food pantry. We invite our customers to join in America’s great day of giving and help “Stamp out Hunger”