Help needed to ‘Stamp Out Hunger’ on May 9
Help is needed for the 17th annual “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive of the National Letter Carriers Association, being held in conjunction with the Harry Chapin Food Bank. The nation’s largest one-day food drive will be held on Saturday, May 9. More than 350 local letter carriers will be participating in the food drive.
Postal customers are asked to place non-perishable food in unbreakable containers next to their mailbox before the letter carrier delivers mail that day. The letter carriers and volunteers will pick up the food, deliver it to a postal station, sort, and deliver it to the Harry Chapin Food Bank. All food donated will remain in Lee County.
The Harry Chapin Food Bank can accept virtually any kind of food. Items especially in need are peanut butter, tuna, rice, beans, canned meats, fruits, vegetables and soups.
Corporate sponsors are assisting again this year with the national food drive. The Campbell Soup Company is printing postal cards, which will be delivered to mailboxes the week prior to the food drive. Publix Supermarkets will provide plastic bags, also to be delivered to mailboxes several days before the food drive. ValPak Direct Marketing Systems has promoted the food drive through their blue envelope mailings.
The Harry Chapin Food Bank reports that this year there is an increased need for food supplies from their 167 participating soup kitchens, church pantries, homeless and abuse shelters, and senior and children’s programs. An over 30 percent increase in demand has resulted from the high unemployment figures throughout the nation and specifically in Southwest Florida.
Volunteers are needed to assist with the food drive. This is an ideal day for students, organizations, and companies to volunteer. The volunteers work shifts of several hours. Individuals interested in assisting on May 9 are asked to contact Marta Hodson at 239-334-7007 ext. 32, or e-mail her at martahodson@harrychapinfoodbank.org.
The Harry Chapin Food Bank solicits, collects and stores quality food for distribution to needy people through a network of local nonprofit agencies in Lee, Collier, Hendry, Charlotte and Glades counties, who serve 20,000 people monthly. The Harry Chapin Food Bank distributes more than 4.25 million pounds of food and other grocery products, valued at more than $7 million, per year.
Additional information about or to contribute financially to the Harry Chapin Food Bank, contact 239-334-7007 or go to harrychapinfoodbank.org.