‘Stamp Out Hunger’ Food Donations Stolen From Fresno Home
“A Fresno woman claims her food donation was ripped off Saturday. A U.S. postal worker was supposed to pick up the groceries as part of the nation’s Stamp out Hunger campaign. Instead, someone in a random vehicle reportedly took the bag of food. Stamp out Hunger is the largest one-day food drive in the country put on by the U.S. Postal Service.”
source: KGPE TV CBS47 – Serving the Counties of Fresno, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced and Tulare in the Central San Joaquin Valley of California
Letter Carriers Annual Food Drive Set for May 14 Throughout Nation
Donations Critical as Thousands Join Hunger Rolls; Effort Will Help Feed Needy Families in All 50 States
WASHINGTON, April 6, 2011 — The National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) announced today that the nation’s largest food drive to combat hunger will be conducted this year on Saturday, May 14. On that day, letter carriers will collect non-perishable donations from homes as they deliver mail along their postal routes.
This is the 19th annual NALC National Food Drive to stamp out hunger. The one-day drive 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. Read more
Record 77.1 Million Pounds Collected in Letter Carriers’ National Food Drive
Despite Lingering Effects of Economic Recession Citizens Boost Donations to ‘Stamp Out Hunger’
Increases 18-year Total to More Than 1 Billion Pounds
WASHINGTON, June 1 - Americans donated a record 77.1 million pounds of non-perishable food to help ‘Stamp Out Hunger’ in their communities this year in the annual Letter Carriers’ National Food Drive, the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) union announced today.
NALC President Fredric V. Rolando said 77,132,180 pounds of food were collected in the drive and delivered to local food banks, pantries and shelters to help needy families. It is the nation’s largest one-day effort to combat hunger. The results of the May 8 effort easily eclipsed the previous record, set last year, of 73.4 million pounds.
The 18th annual drive boosted the total donations collected since the drive began in 1993 to more than 1 billion pounds — 1,059,800,000 pounds.
“Despite the lingering effects of the recession, postal customers came through again this year in the continuing fight against hunger in America,” Rolando said. ”Our members and the thousands of rural letter carriers and other volunteers were proud to deliver the generous donations from millions of caring citizens who wanted to help needy families in their communities.”
The food was collected by letter carriers as they delivered mail along their postal routes in over 10,000 cities and towns in all 50 states and U.S. jurisdictions.
Tampa, Florida NALC Branch 599 collected 2,062,529 pounds to emerge as the top local union branch in the country, edging out West Coast Florida Branch 1477, which includes St. Petersburg. Buffalo/Western New York Branch 3 was third, followed by southern California’s Garden Grove Branch 1100.
Rolando expressed appreciation to the union’s national partners in the drive – the U.S. Postal Service’s Priority Mail, Campbell Soup Company, the National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association, Valpak Direct Marketing Systems, United Way Worldwide, the AFL-CIO, and the Feeding America food bank network. Rolando also thanked “Family Circus” cartoonists Bil and Jeff Keane, who yearly provide special artwork, and actors David Arquette and Courteney Cox, television host Ryan Seacrest, and drag racing star Ashley Force Hood for their promotional support.
The 295,000-member NALC union represents active and retired city delivery letter carriers of the U.S. Postal Service throughout the nation.
SOURCE National Association of Letter Carriers
Valpak Helps NALC Stamp Out Hunger by Promoting Nation’s Largest One-Day Food Drive on May 8
LARGO, Fla., April 20 — /PRNewswire/ — For the seventh year in a row, Valpak announces its support of the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Stamp Out Hunger food drive, the nation’s largest one-day effort to help needy families. On May 8, postal carriers will collect non-perishable food from customers along their routes and deliver the food to local food banks.
Valpak pledges to help the NALC by featuring the event on some 40 million Valpak envelopes distributed across the United States as a donation to support the cause. This year, in addition to the in-kind donation worth more than $1 million, Valpak will donate $1 for every new Valpak Facebook fan (up to $5,000) to Feeding America.
“Hunger is a reality for people in every community across America,” said Deanna Willsey, director of corporate communications for Valpak. ”By making it easier for people to donate food, the NALC is making a big difference in the fight to stop hunger. Valpak is proud to support the NALC and promote Stamp Out Hunger again this year.”
The NALC food drive began 18 years ago, noting the severe shortage of food that families encounter in the summer months. Because many children receive food from school programs, families are hit extra hard when children are out of school for the summer.
In addition, late spring is often the time when food banks are struggling, as the donations received during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays have long been donated.
Last year, the NALC Stamp Out Hunger food drive set a record of 73.4 million pounds in non-perishable donations, bringing the total for the 17 years of the drive to 982.7 million pounds. In 2010, letter carriers have the opportunity to break through the 1 billion-pound level.
Although last year the NALC was able to collect more food than ever, this year there are more people who need support. In a survey cited by Feeding America, “More than half (55 percent) of food banks reported that they or the agencies who help distribute the food they provide have had to turn people away in the last year.”
No First-Class Postage Increase This Year But May Will Be A Very Busy Month At Post Offices
POSTAL POINTERS
May will be a very busy month at area Post Offices. The best news is that there will not be a First-Class postage increase this year! A once-ounce letter will still cost 44 cents, with additional ounces costing 17 cents. Postal cards are still priced at 28 cents.
Shelter Pet Adopt-a-thon. The Post Office will be offering a Shelter Pet Adopt-a-thon in conjunction with Lee County Domestic Animal Services on Saturday, May 1, at 5600 Banner Drive, Fort Myers. The event coincides with the Post Office’s commemorative stamps now available for purchase; the 44-cent stamps are sold in sheets of 20 cats and dogs. The event will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., with pet adoptions continuing until 3:30 p.m. Adoptions at the event will be half the regular adoption fee! A variety of activities will be offered including a children’s essay contest, a children’s craft, and face painting. All pets adopted on May 1 will be eligible to win a sheet of photo stamps (official U.S. postage) with either the pet’s image or a family photo with the new pet; a certificate of adoption will be provided along with a first day of sale postmark of one of the pet stamps. Those attending are encouraged to bring in nonperishable pet food or supplies for the Animal Services Community Pet Pantry.
National Letter Carrier Food Drive. The 18th annual “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive will be held on Saturday, May 8. Letter carriers throughout Lee, Collier & Charlotte counties will be collecting nonperishable food items with their regular mail deliveries. Campbell Soup Company provides reminder cards for all postal customers and Publix Supermarkets provide plastic collection bags. Customers are encouraged to place their food by the mailbox prior to the regular delivery time. Food collected will be donated to the Harry Chapin Food Bank for distribution at no cost to its participating agencies. Volunteers are needed on May 8 by both the food bank and the Post Office. Contact either the Harry Chapin Food Bank at 334-7007 or the Post Office at 573-9638.
Mailbox Improvement. Again this year the Post Office is hosting a contest for the “most improved mailbox.” Entries were due by April 30 and the winners will be announced during May, which is Mailbox Improvement Month.
Dogbite Prevention Week. Also in May, the Post Office participates in the annual observance of dog bite prevention. From nips and bites to actual attacks, violent dog behavior continues to pose a serious threat to mail carriers. Letter carriers are the third most likely group to be bitten by a dog. Each year, several thousand Postal Service employees are victimized by dogs. At this point in our nation’s history, even the comedians know that “dog bites man” is no longer a laughing matter. Most people think children and dogs go together naturally, and they often do, but it may shock you to learn that children are the most common victims of dog bites.
source: U.S. Postal Service
Letter Carriers’ Annual Food Drive Set for May 8 Throughout Nation
Donations Critical as Thousands Join Hunger Rolls; Effort Will Help Feed Needy Families in All 50 States
WASHINGTON – The National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) announced today that the nation’s largest annual food drive to combat hunger will be conducted this year on Saturday, May 8. On that day, letter carriers will collect non-perishable donations from homes as they deliver mail along their postal routes.
The 18th annual NALC National Food Drive to “Stamp Out Hunger” is the largest one-day food drive in the nation. Carriers collected a record 73.4 million pounds of food in last year’s drive. The drive is held annually on the second Saturday in May in over 10,000 cities and towns in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam.
Donations from this year’s drive are expected to push the overall total since the annual drive began 18 years ago to over 1 billion pounds. The total currently is 982.7 million pounds.
Donations will be collected by more than 1,400 local branches of the 295,000-member postal union and delivered to food banks, pantries and shelters that serve the communities where they are collected. Assisting in the effort are rural letter carriers and other postal employees, as well as members of other unions and thousands of civic volunteers.
NALC President Fredric V. Rolando emphasized that as successful as the food drive has been in the past, it simply must be even better this year.
“Millions and millions of families are suffering – struggling to make ends meet and put food on the table,” Rolando said. ”Food banks, pantries and shelters need our help more than ever this year. As families count on them for support, they’re counting on us and we will not back off on our commitment.”
Rolando also noted that donations are particularly critical at this time since most school lunch programs are suspended during the summer months and millions of children must find alternate sources of nutrition.
In New York City, where transportation limitations preclude mailbox pickup, citizens are asked to take donations to their local post offices between May 3 and 8.
Persons who have questions about the drive at their location should ask their letter carrier or contact their local post office.
Over 125 million postcards, sponsored by the Campbell Soup Company and the U.S. Postal Service, will be mailed to postal customers to remind them of the drive. Valpak Direct Marketing Systems is also focusing 44 million of its envelopes on encouraging food donations. Television and radio public service announcements featuring David Arquette and Courteney Cox are being made available throughout the country.
Other co-sponsors of the drive with the letter carriers’ union are the U.S. Postal Service’s Priority Mail; Campbell Soup Company; Valpak; National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association; Feeding America, the nation’s food bank network; United Way Worldwide and its local United Ways; and the AFL-CIO.
SOURCE National Association of Letter Carriers