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Stamp Out Hunger set for May 10
By SUZETTE PORTER
Article published on Tuesday, May 6, 2008 |
PINELLAS COUNTY – On the Saturday before Mother’s Day, postal carriers will be on a special mission.
The National Association of Letter Carrier’s 16th annual Stamp out Hunger Food Drive is May 10.
The drive is touted as the largest one-day food collection in the nation. Area food banks are already anticipating the much-needed influx of food and are asking for volunteers to help.
The RCS Food Bank in Clearwater is expecting to receive 100 tons of food within six hours as truckloads of canned and boxed supplies coming in from local mail carriers throughout the day. People or groups who would like to volunteer may call Mary Lou Miller, volunteer coordinator, at 443-4031, ext. 506. Refreshments will be provided for all volunteers.
At least 85 volunteers are needed to help deliver food collected in south Pinellas to the Free Clinic in St. Petersburg. Organizers are looking for van and truck drivers, as well as vehicles to transport the food. Pickup trucks, full-size vans, trailers, box trucks, step vans are needed to transport both food and volunteers from postal drop-off sites to the clinic at
863 Third Ave. N. Call Rebecca Russell-Gootee at 821-1200, ext. 114.
The challenge this year is especially daunting, said NALC officials, due to a deepening recession and high gas prices. According to the federal government, 35 million Americans are experiencing “very low food security,” meaning they are either hungry now or worried about where they will get their next meal.
“The need is very great, with many, many food pantries reporting record numbers of men, women and children seeking assistance,” said NALC President William H. Young. “And it will only get worse if our economy continues to decline.”
In 2007, the drive delivered 70.7 million pounds of non-perishable items donated by postal patrons to local food organizations. It was the fourth consecutive year the total surpassed 70 million pounds.
Young has challenged letter carriers to make a special effort to collect more food this year than ever before. To help them meet this challenge, the public’s help is needed.
Organizers urge people to leave a sturdy bag containing non-perishable foods, such as canned soup, canned vegetables, pasta, rice or cereal next to their mailbox prior to the time of regular mail delivery on May 10. Local letter carriers will then collect donations from homes across the city and deliver them to local food banks.
For more information, visit www.helpstampouthunger.com.
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Article published on Tuesday, May 6, 2008
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