Letter carriers hope to collect more than mail Saturday

Leaving a bag of nonperishable food items at your mailbox Saturday will have a great impact on the community.

The United States Postal Service will conduct its 15th annual Food Drive, which benefits Friends in Service Helping and Advocates to End Domestic Violence.

Donations collected are crucial to the two groups to see them through the summer and fall months.

"Last year we collected 43,000 pounds of food locally," said Shawn Wells, food drive co-coordinator. "Since the food drive's inception, more than 750,000 million pounds of food have been collected nationwide."

The National Association of Letter Carriers' first food drive was in 1993. It is considered the nation's largest one-day food drive.

"This food drive is very important to us," said Lisa Lee, director of Advocates to End Domestic Violence. "It's what will keep the shelter in food until December. It's crucial."

Lee said she has a team of volunteers ready to go. They use the Classy Seconds utility truck to make several deliveries from the main post office to their pantry location. The items are then sorted and placed on shelves.

"After it's sorted, we take inventory to see what we're low on," Lee said. "Every year's different."

Wells said for neighborhoods that have community mailboxes, donations should be placed in a box or plastic bag at the community mailbox. She said there about 60 carriers in Carson City covering 53 routes.

"It's great when you turn onto a street, and you can see the food bags," Wells said. "To see the generosity - many who give are some who don't have that much to begin with.

"The food drive does add to the carriers' work hours, but most people just love it."

Monte Fast, director of FISH, said without Saturday's food drive, they will soon be out of food.

"We're very low this year (on food)," Fast said. "The success of this drive is very important to us."

Fast said staff and volunteers at FISH will cook breakfast Saturday morning at the main post office for the carriers before they head out on their routes.

"It's the least we can do for them, for what they're doing for us," he said.

Suggested food items include pasta, canned meats and fish, canned soups, cereal and rice, canned vegetables and peanut butter. No expired food items or glass jars, please.

Food may also be taken to the main post office on Roop Street from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, or on Friday during business hours.

Collections are also being taken in Douglas County.

• Contact Rhonda Costa-Landers at rcosta-landers@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1223.

You can help

WHO: National Association of Letter Carriers

WHAT: 15th annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive

WHEN: Saturday

WHERE: Place nonperishable food items in bag/box next to mailbox

SUGGESTED: Canned soup, juice, pasta, vegetables, cereal and rice, canned meats and fish, peanut butter (please, no glass jars or expired food items)

On the Net

www.helpstampouthunger.com