COURT HOUSE — On May 8, area letter carriers will again help Stamp Out Hunger! across America with residents’ help in order to provide assistance to the rapidly increasing number of Americans who are struggling with hunger.
Now in its 18th year, the Stamp Out Hunger! effort is the nation’s largest single-day food drive. In 2010, drive organizers hope to exceed last year’s record-setting total of 73.4 million pounds of donated food, as well as surpass one billion pounds of food collected over the history of the drive.
“Last year the postal carriers’ food drive took 77,626 pound of food,” said Margie Barham, executive director of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey/Southern Branch. “We are looking forward to another successful food drive this year. The need has never been greater, yet we have seen a decline in food donations overall. We are hoping this drive helps fill the shelves.”
Supporting the drive this year are Campbell Soup Company, the U.S. Postal Service, Feeding America, Valpak, the National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association, the AFL-CIO and United Way Worldwide.
To help Stamp Out Hunger! in Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland counties this year, simply leave a sturdy bag containing non-perishable foods, like canned soup, canned vegetables, pasta, rice or cereal, next to your mailbox prior to the time of regular mail delivery on May 8. Food items should be in non-breakable containers, such as boxes and cans.
Local letter carriers will be collecting donations from homes throughout the area and delivering them to the Community FoodBank of New Jersey/Southern Branch in Egg Harbor Township. This FoodBank serves Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland counties through over 230 partner agencies.
“In these trying times it’s important for Americans to rally behind causes like the Letter Carriers Food Drive to help their neighbors struggling with hunger,” said Fredric V. Rolando, NALC president. “While we’re very proud of our success over the years in the battle against hunger, the fact remains that more Americans than ever are in need, which is why we remain committed to this drive.”
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s annual study measuring food security in the United States, the number of Americans living in food insecure homes increased from 36.2 million in 2007, to 49.1 million in 2008. Perhaps most alarming, of this total, approximately one in four is a child (16.7 million).
The effects of the recession and unemployment rates are also having a dramatic impact on the agencies that help the hungry. In a recent survey conducted by Feeding America, the nation’s leading domestic-hunger-relief organization, its 203 food bank members consistently reported increased demand for emergency food assistance, ranging from five to 150 percent. Today, food banks, like the Community FoodBank of New Jersey are struggling to meet the surging needs of their clients.
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