23rd Annual Postal Workers' Food Drive Set for Saturday, May 9

Letter carriers, in conjunction with the U.S. Postal Service, will participate in the nation's largest one-day food drive effort to "Stamp Out Hunger" Saturday, May 9. On that day, letter carriers will collect non-perishable food donations as they deliver mail along their routes. For those who have a P.O. box simply bring your bag of food/toiletries to your local post office that morning.

Items such as juice, peanut butter, jellies and jams, soup, coffee, cereal, canned meats, vegetables and pasta will be collected in order to help families in need in our communities.

This is the largest one-day food drive in the nation and the largest, most important food drive of the year for Loaves & Fishes.

Fredric Rolando, President of the National Association of Letter Carriers explains, "Since food pantries and other service organizations are pretty much tapped out by the time our drive rolls around, this infusion of food comes at just the right time." In fact, the second Saturday in May was specifically chosen for the annual event. By that time, pantry shelves filled up through winter-holiday generosity are often bare or nearly so by late spring-a sad reflection of the reality that widespread hunger in America is a tough problem to solve."

Summer months are a particularly critical time for many children whose school lunch programs are suspended until fall; their families must find alternate sources of nutrition.

The need is critical at Loaves & Fishes, the largest food pantry in North Central MA, throughout the entire year. With the commitment of postmasters and letter carriers throughout our nine postal communities to implement this food drive, combined with the generosity of postal patrons throughout our area, we will continue to make a significant difference in the lives of many local residents.

We hope that we can fill our shelves and have plenty of food in reserve to sustain us through summer months with food this year. Our client base has soared in recent years, reaching over 900 families last year. Over 37% of our clients are under 18 or over 65, and having plentiful, nutritious food is essential for their health and well being. Please be as generous and supportive as you can.

Please mark Saturday, May 9 on your calendars! You can help simply by placing your food donation in a bag and leaving it at your mailbox on the morning of the 9th before your letter carrier arrives, or by bringing it directly to your Post Office. Food collected will be delivered directly to the pantry that same day by volunteers. Please do not include out-of-date items or those in glass containers. If you have questions or would like to volunteer to help receive, date-check, sort and box food at the pantry that day, call 978-772-4627, email tohelp@loavesfishespantry.org, or visit www.loavesfishespantry.org.

These are our neighbors and friends - please help them by being as generous as you are able!