Letter: Get ready for letter carrier food drive

To the editor:

May 13 marks the 25th anniversary of the National Association of Letter Carriers Stamp Out Hunger Food drive. Letter carriers, rural carriers and post offices will collect food donations in order to provide assistance to the millions of Americans who are struggling with hunger.

Each year on the second Saturday in May letter carriers across the country collect non-perishable food donations from our customers. These donations go directly to local food pantries to provide food to people in Bennington county and surrounding areas who need our help. Last year, we collected more than 15,600 lbs. of food in Bennington and surrounding areas. Bennington collected 10,900 of this feeding more than 1,000 families for two months.

The need for food donations is great. Currently in Vermont one out of four are unsure where their next meal is coming from. Our food drive timing is crucial. Food banks and pantries often receive the majority of their donations during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday seasons. By springtime many pantries are depleted, entering the summer low on supplies.

Wonder what foods are great to donate to the food drive? Here are a few non-perishable food items requested by food banks: Cereal, pasta, rice, canned goods, 100 percent juice, soup, pasta sauce, macaroni & cheese, beans, baby food, diapers, laundry detergent, soap and shampoo.

Participating in this year's Food Drive is simple. Just leave a non-perishable food donation in a bag by your mailbox on May 13 and your letter carrier will do the rest. I invite you to join in America's great day of giving and help us in our fight to end hunger.

— Martin Mosher, NALC food drive coordinator

Bennington