Mail carriers collecting food for the hungry

Sunnyside mail carriers will be helping to "Stamp Out Hunger" Saturday, May 11, as they deliver mail to area residents.
Sunnyside Postmaster Michelle Nesary said the food gathered by the mail carriers will be divided between the Sunnyside food banks. She said the mail carriers will be picking up non-perishable food items, like peanut butter, cereal, canned soup, meats and vegetables, as well as pasta and rice.
Residents are asked to collect their food stuffs in a bag and leave it by their mailbox for pick up.
Nesary said a barrel will also be placed in the Sunnyside post office lobby, 713 E. Edison Ave., during the coming week to allow mail customers more opportunities for food donations.
Nesary said the Stamp Out Hunger food drive, considered to be the largest single day food drive in the nation, is sponsored by the National Association of Letter Carriers and the Campbell Soup Company. Last year, nationwide, 70 million pounds of food was collected for food banks, shelters and soup kitchens.
The Stamp Out Hunger drive is in its 21st year, but locally the donations have been down, she said.
"We are hoping to increase the amount of food we can give to our local food banks," Nesary said.
A postcard reminder of the May 11 food drive will be delivered to all Sunnyside mail customers during the coming week, she added.