Please mark Saturday, May 12 on your calendars NOW! Simply place your food donation in a bag or box and leave it at your mailbox on the morning of the 12th before your letter carrier arrives, or bring it directly to your Post Office. It will be delivered to the pantry the same day by a multitude of volunteers. Please do not include out-of-date items or those in glass containers. If you have questions, want to see what items are particularly needed, or can help sort or transport food, please call 978-772-4627 (ask for Patty or Gail), e-mail [email protected], or visit www.loavesfishespantry.org.
“It’s our 20th anniversary,” NALC President Fredric Rolando noted. “For two decades now, our annual national drive has proved critical in helping millions of American families—our customers—who are struggling to make ends meet during this continuing recession. Each year, the second Saturday in May is a day when all citizens have an opportunity, with the help of their letter carrier, to easily donate food to needy families in their community,” he said.
The drive, the largest one-day food-collection event in the nation, has been a success every year, Rolando said, but the needs are particularly sad, even staggering, in 2012. “Sixteen percent of all Americans are at risk of hunger—uncertain where their next meal may be coming from. That includes 1 in 5 children under the age of 18, plus 4 million seniors who are forced every day to choose between paying a utility bill and buying food,” he said.
Providing branches and volunteers a much-appreciated boost are the drive’s official sponsors: the National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association, Campbell Soup Company, Valpak, U.S. Postal Service, United Way, AFL-CIO, Feeding America, Uncle Bob’s Self-Storage, and AARP.
The need for food donations is critical at Loaves & Fishes, not only now but throughout the entire year. With the commitment of the postmasters and letter carriers throughout our eight communities to implement this food drive, combined with the generosity of postal patrons throughout our area, we will continue to make a significant difference in the lives of many local residents.
In light of the difficult economic times, Loaves & Fishes is asking everyone to be as generous and supportive as you can this year. We are hoping for beautiful weather—rain storms in previous years have resulted in a significant downturn in the amount of food that is donated. We are especially depending on donations this year, with a huge increase in the number of families coming to the pantry.
