From Dawn Obermann
Monroe postmaster
Every second Saturday in May, letter carriers across America deliver much more than mail when they walk and drive along their postal routes. They also collect the goodness and compassion of their United States Postal Service customers who participate in the National Association of Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger National Food Drive - the largest one-day food drive in the nation, and probably the world.
The effort by city letter carriers, rural letter carriers, other Postal Service employees and numerous other volunteers has resulted in delivery of over 1 billion pounds of donations to community food banks and pantries over the past 18 years.
The USDA released some startling statistics Nov. 16, 2009, which shocked the entire hunger relief community. Its annual study of hunger in America indicates the number of people living in the margins of hunger, struggling to make ends meet and put food on the table, has increased from 35.5 million to more than 49.1 million people. This is the largest increase reported in our history and represents an increase of nearly 14 million. This means that one in six Americans is uncertain where their next meal will be coming from.
This same report revealed that our most precious resource, our children, were among the hardest hit. A staggering one in four or 16.7 million children (an increase of 35 percent) reside in food-insecure households - unable to consistently access nutritious and adequate amounts of food necessary for a healthy life. Insufficient nutrition puts children at risk for illness and weakens their immune system. Research reveals, in comparison to food-secure children, children from insecure families are 90 percent more likely to be in fair or poor health and have 30 percent higher rates of hospitalization.
On Saturday, May 8, letter carriers of the Monroe post office collected 7,940 pounds of non-perishable food donations that were left by mailboxes. The food was delivered to the Monroe food pantry for distribution to those in need in the Monroe area. We would like to thank the Monroe community for their support of this important and worthwhile event.
Thank you for helping the Postal Service stamp out hunger.
Monroe postmaster
Every second Saturday in May, letter carriers across America deliver much more than mail when they walk and drive along their postal routes. They also collect the goodness and compassion of their United States Postal Service customers who participate in the National Association of Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger National Food Drive - the largest one-day food drive in the nation, and probably the world.
The effort by city letter carriers, rural letter carriers, other Postal Service employees and numerous other volunteers has resulted in delivery of over 1 billion pounds of donations to community food banks and pantries over the past 18 years.
The USDA released some startling statistics Nov. 16, 2009, which shocked the entire hunger relief community. Its annual study of hunger in America indicates the number of people living in the margins of hunger, struggling to make ends meet and put food on the table, has increased from 35.5 million to more than 49.1 million people. This is the largest increase reported in our history and represents an increase of nearly 14 million. This means that one in six Americans is uncertain where their next meal will be coming from.
This same report revealed that our most precious resource, our children, were among the hardest hit. A staggering one in four or 16.7 million children (an increase of 35 percent) reside in food-insecure households - unable to consistently access nutritious and adequate amounts of food necessary for a healthy life. Insufficient nutrition puts children at risk for illness and weakens their immune system. Research reveals, in comparison to food-secure children, children from insecure families are 90 percent more likely to be in fair or poor health and have 30 percent higher rates of hospitalization.
On Saturday, May 8, letter carriers of the Monroe post office collected 7,940 pounds of non-perishable food donations that were left by mailboxes. The food was delivered to the Monroe food pantry for distribution to those in need in the Monroe area. We would like to thank the Monroe community for their support of this important and worthwhile event.
Thank you for helping the Postal Service stamp out hunger.
