WASHINGTON, May 9 /PRNewswire/ -- On Saturday, May 13, letter carriers
in more than 10,000 cities and towns across America will collect
non-perishable food items donated by customers. They will be participating
in the 14th annual National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Food
Drive -- the largest annual one-day food drive in the world. Postal
employees in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and
the Virgin Islands will collect food and deliver it to local community food
banks, pantries and shelters.
"The United States Postal Service is proud to support our nation's
letter carriers and the generosity of customers to enable the collection of
millions of pounds of food to replenish community food banks and feed the
needy," said Postmaster General John E. Potter.
Long-time supporters of the drive include the U.S. Postal Service,
Campbell Soup Company, America's Second Harvest, Cox Target Media, local
United Ways throughout America and the AFL-CIO Community Services Network.
In 2005, the drive collected a record 71.3 million pounds of food for the
hungry, making the total amount of donations to community food banks and
pantries from the NALC Food Drive over the last 13 years well over a half
billion pounds.
An estimated 30 million people face hunger every day in America,
including more than 12 million children. This drive is one way to help
those right in their own city or town who need help.
Letter carriers have established a tradition of community service over
the years. They have always been involved when something needs to be done,
whether watching over the elderly through the Carrier Alert program,
delivering the mail and assisting the American Red Cross during times of
disaster, rescuing victims of fires, crime and other catastrophes.
The NALC Food Drive has received numerous accolades, including two
Presidential Certificates of Achievement, a Special Appreciation Award in
2003 from America's Second Harvest Food Bank Network, the annual
Humanitarian of the Year Award in 2003 from Bon Appetit/Food Network and
the annual World Hunger Year/Chapin Award in 2004.
More than 115 million postcards were mailed to customers in towns and
cities throughout America letting them know about the food drive. Customers
who did not receive a postcard can check with their local Post Office to
find out if their office is participating. Customers are asked to place
non- perishable food items next to their mailbox before their letter
carrier delivers the mail on Saturday, May 13. The letter carrier will do
the rest, taking the food to the Post Office where it is sorted and
delivered to an area food bank or pantry.
Postal customers of some New York City and Chicago Post Offices are
asked to take their food donations to their local participating Post Office
during the week of May 6-13. New York City and Chicago residents should
contact their local Post Office for more information.
Sign-up to receive an e-mail Friday, May 12, reminding you to place
non- perishable food items next to your mailbox at
http://www.stampouthunger2006.com.
Since 1775, the Postal Service and its predecessor, the Post Office
Department, has connected friends, families, neighbors and businesses by
mail. It is an independent federal agency that visits 144 million homes and
businesses every day, six days a week and is the only service provider
delivering to every address in the nation. The Postal Service receives no
taxpayer dollars for routine operations, but derives its operating revenues
solely from the sale of postage, products and services. With annual
revenues of more than $69 billion, it is the world's leading provider of
mailing and delivery services, offering some of the most affordable postage
rates in the world. The Postal Service delivers more than half of the
world's mail volume - - some 212 billion letters, advertisements,
periodicals and packages a year -- and serves seven and a half million
customers each day at its 37,000 retail locations nationwide. Its website,
usps.com, attracts more than 21 million visitors each month.
SOURCE U.S. Postal Service
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Related links:
http://www.usps.com/
CONTACT:
Lauren Sposato of U.S. Postal Service,
+1-202-268-8524, cell +1-202-641-6034, or
lauren.r.sposato@usps.gov
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