Letter Carriers Collect Record 73.4 Million Pounds of Food

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AFL-CIO News Blog

by James Parks

Despite an unemployment rate of 9.4 percent in May and tough economic times across the nation, working families responded with amazing generosity by donating a record 73.4 million pounds of non-perishable food in the 17th annual “Stamp Out Hunger” national food drive by the Letter Carriers (NALC) to restock community food banks and pantries.

In more than 10,000 cities and towns, letter carriers collected the food May 9 as they delivered mail along their postal routes. It is the nation’s largest one-day effort to address hunger.


Letter Carrier Catherine Alibocas collects food along her route in Columbia, S.C.

NALC President William Young said:

This is an amazing testimony to the generosity of the American people, even as they themselves struggle to make ends meet in these hard times. Our members take pride in being able to serve their postal customers and help them assist millions of needy Americans, including many working families, children and the elderly.

Last year, letter carriers collected 73.1 million pounds of food. This is the sixth consecutive year that more than 70 million pounds was collected, which brings the total for the drive’s 17 years to more than 982 million pounds of food.

Read more: http://blog.aflcio.org/2009/06/08/letter-carriers-collect-record-734-million-pounds-of-food/

[JerseygirlCT]

1. That is great news! nt

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

2. It could've been about 20lbs more, but our mailman didn't pick up the food

I've still got it in bags in the dining room. I need to drop it off at the local Catholic Church when I get a chance.

[Dr.Phool]

4. We've got a good mailman.

He picked up our bags.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

5. Our mailman sucks

We don't even try to get packages picked up at our door, because he won't get them.

[dugaresa]

3. that says a lot about people in this country

makes me smile, there is hope.

[UrbScotty]

6. Some good news!

Glad to see it!

[Alamuti Lotus]

7. that's amazing

I suspect that the 10lbs that I gave is precisely what tipped it over the record. That's the great part of Solipsism over mere Narcissism: I know that was nonsense, but I'm the only One so what does it matter..

[Captain Hilts]

8. I wish they'd just deliver mail correctly. And STOP delivering mail to my mother's house.

It's ALL supposed to be forwarded because she's died. But every damned time I go to the house, there's mail in the mailbox. I've talked to the supervisor many, many times and this keeps happening.

[maddezmom]

9. good on them. We've got a great mailman!

He's from Peru and he always chats with my daughter in spanish. He comes right after the bus drops her off from school so she normally gets the mail right out of the truck. :D Gave to the fund drive but told him we were moving so I'd have to clean out the pantry early June. He's coming Sunday on his own time/dime to pick up anything we have that can be used.

[KoKo]

10. We donated. Our Mail Carriers do this several times a year and

it's a good thing.

[RubyDuby in GA]

11. I set out my huge box like I do every year and my lazy weekend delivery guy didn't pick up

I just took it to our local food bank the following Monday. I wish they wouldn't put out little postcards saying they are going to do this if they aren't actually going to do it in my area.


On edit: I'm thrilled that they collected that much food for people who need it! Way to go postal service (except my lazy Saturday delivery guy)!