Governor Ted Kulongoski encourages all Oregon residents to participate in the National Association of Letter Carriers Food Drive, Saturday, May 14.
“The National Association of Letter Carriers Food Drive is an example of how much we can accomplish in the fight against hunger when we join forces and share resources,” Governor Ted Kulongoski said. “This annual event is the largest one-day food drive in Oregon and gives residents in all counties the opportunity to make a difference in our effort to eliminate hunger and food insecurity in Oregon. Plus, it’s as easy as going to your mailbox!”
Close to 3,000 letter carriers throughout Oregon and Clark County, Wash., will join with letter carriers across America to do much more than deliver mail when they walk and drive along their postal routes on Saturday, May 14.
They will also collect donations of nonperishable food from their postal customers to Stamp Out Hunger during the11th annual National Association of Letter Carriers Food Drive.
“Letter carriers deliver mail to homes in every community, and we know the people along our routes,” said L.C. Hansen, president of NALC Branch 82. “We know first hand that the need for food donations has never been greater.”
The process is simple. Here’s how all citizens can help letter carriers Stamp Out Hunger:
1) Watch your mailbox this week for two special items:
• a card, announcing the National Association of Letter Carriers Food Drive and
• a plastic bag, generously donated by Fred Meyer.
2) Fill the bag with nutritious, nonperishable food such as canned fruits, vegetables, tuna fish, peanut butter, soups, stews, chili, beans, rice and pasta.
Do NOT include glass items, homemade items or previously opened containers.
3) Place the filled bag by your mailbox on the morning of Saturday, May 14. The NALC food drive always takes place on the second Saturday in May.
On Saturday, May 14, letter carrier will collect nonperishable food donations left by mailboxes along their routes and take them to their local station. Trucks will pick up the food and deliver it to community food banks.
Last year’s NALC Food Drive generated more than 1.3-million pounds of food throughout Oregon and southwest Washington. More than 2,000 letter carriers collected almost 687,671 pounds of food in Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington counties in Oregon and Clark County in Washington.
“Oregon remains among the top states in hunger in the nation, and the number of people needing food assistance continues to grow,” notes Rachel Bristol, executive director of Oregon Food Bank. “The NALC Food Drive provides some of the most nutritious food we receive. This high-quality food is particularly important for the growing bodies and brains of the one in five children in our area who rely on emergency food boxes for meals during the year.”
Most needed foods include canned tuna, peanut butter, soups, stews, chili, canned fruits and vegetables, beans, rice and pasta.
The NALC food drive is made possible by support from Fred Meyer, the U.S. Postal Service and many Oregon unions and other organizations including:
United Food & Commercial Workers Local 555; National Association of Letter Carriers, Branch 82; Northwest Oregon Labor Council, AFL-CIO; Oregon American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 75; Labor Roundtable of Southwest Washington; Cement Masons Local #555; APWU Portland, Oregon Area Local; Willamette Lodge No. 63 IAM & AW; AFSCME Multnomah County Employee Local 88; AFI-Oregon; Portland Fire Fighters Local 43 I.A.F.F.; International Longshore & Warehouse Union Local 8 Joint Council of Teamsters No. 37; Portland Local 8; Federal Credit Union; OPEIU Local 11; Bakers and Grain Millers Union Local 114; Oregon AFL-CIO Salem; Woodworkers District 1 – IAM & AW; Professional Fire Fighters Association; Columbia Pacific Building & Construction Trades Council, AFL-CIO; D1 PCD MEBA; Clackamas County Fire Fighters Local 1159; Oregon, Southern Idaho and Wyoming District Council of Laborers; Mt. Hood Lodge # 1005 IAM & AW; Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 290; Brickl!
ayers & Allied Craft Workers – Local 1; Oregon Food Bank; and Multnomah County Democrats.
For more information or to make a cash contribution, call 1-800-777-7427 or 503-282-0555 or visit wwww.oregonfoodbank.org.
