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-- WITH PHOTO -- TO FOOD, AND NATIONAL EDITORS:
Letter Carriers' Annual Food Drive Set for May 10 throughout Nation
WASHINGTON, April 15, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National
Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) will conduct its 22nd annual
food drive to combat hunger on Saturday, May 10. Letter carriers will
collect non-perishable food donations on that day as they deliver mail
along their postal routes.
It is the nation's largest single-day food drive, and is held annually
on the second Saturday in May in 10,000 cities and towns in all 50
states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and
Guam.
The Letter Carriers' Food Drive never has been more important, with
millions facing hunger every day. The extreme winter weather and other
natural disasters many regions experienced not only exacerbate
problems in many communities but also turn some who typically give
food into recipients of help.
"Too many people in this country are still going hungry every day,"
NALC President Fredric Rolando said. "It's an honor to be able to help
people in need by leading an effort that brings out the best in so
many Americans. Six days a week, letter carriers see first-hand the
needs in the communities where we work, and we're committed to helping
meet those needs."
Hunger affects about 50 million people around the country, including
17 million children and nine million senior citizens. Pantry shelves
filled up through winter-holiday generosity often are bare by late
spring. And, with most school meal programs suspended during summer
months, millions of children must find alternate sources of nutrition.
Last year, letter carriers collected 74.4 million pounds of food
donations along their postal routes, the second-highest amount since
the NALC's food drive began in 1992. That brought the total to nearly
1.3 billion pounds for the food drive.
Public service announcements are available on the food drive page of
the NALC website nalc.org/food - feel free to use them.
"The Postal Service's universal network, reaching 151 million
addresses six days a week, makes it possible for us to provide this
critically needed assistance," NALC food drive coordinator Pam Donato
said.
On May 10, as they deliver mail, the nation's 175,000 letter carriers
will collect the donations that residents leave near their mail boxes.
People are encouraged to leave a sturdy bag containing non-perishable
foods, such as canned soup, canned vegetables, canned meats and fish,
pasta, rice or cereal next to their mailbox before the regular mail
delivery on Saturday.
Carriers will bring the food to local food banks, pantries or
shelters, including many affiliated with Feeding America, which is a
national partner in the drive, as are United Way, Campbell Soup Co.,
AARP Drive to End Hunger, Publix, the U.S. Postal Service, National
Rural Letter Carriers' Association, the AFL CIO, Valpak,
Valassis and Uncle Bob's Self Storage.
People who have questions about the drive in their area should ask
their letter carrier, contact their local post office, or go to
nalc.org/food, facebook.com/StampOutHunger or
twitter.com/StampOutHunger.
The 280,000-member NALC represents letter carriers across the country
employed by the U.S. Postal Service, along with retired letter
carriers. Founded by Civil War veterans in 1889, the NALC is among the
country's oldest labor unions.
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110406/DC78673LOGO
SOURCE National Association of Letter Carriers
-0- 04/15/2014
/CONTACT: Pam Donato, Community Services Coordinator, 202-662-2489, donato@nalc.org
/Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110406/DC78673LOGO
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
/Web Site: http://www.nalc.org
CO: National Association of Letter Carriers
ST: District of Columbia
IN: FOD
SU: LBR
PRN
-- DC05359 --
0000 04/15/2014 12:10:00 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com
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