Area postal workers want to help stamp out hunger again this year.
The National Association of Letter Carriers hosts its annual "Stamp Out Hunger" food drive on Saturday, May 10 in the Greater Derry area. Letter carriers in more than 10,000 cities and towns across America are expected to participate in the drive.
On that day, postal carriers will pick up nonperishable food items as they deliver the mail on regular routes. Food donations made in the Greater Derry and Londonderry areas stay in the local communities. This is the 16th annual food drive, part of a national one-day effort across the country. Nationally, letter carriers have collected millions of pounds of food to support food banks and soup kitchens around the nation.
Locally, carriers collected over 7 tons of food last year for Derry food banks, where supplies are often running low.
The second Saturday of May was chosen as the date since food bank donations tend to lessen after the holidays, and summer is approaching when school lunches and breakfast programs will not be available for children.
With food prices and fuel costs going up, postal workers hope to help people with food during difficult times. It is estimated that approximately 38 million people face hunger each day, including more than 9 million children.
Residents are asked to leave nonperishable food items in a bag by their mailbox before the letter carrier arrives. Food will be picked up and delivered to a local food bank or pantry.
For information about the postal food drive, contact Terry Gesel or Bill Brickley at 434-7653.
