On May 8th all Gateway residents are encouraged to put food out for the U.S. Postal Service to pick up for the National Letter Carrier Food Drive. This event is one of the most far reaching fundraisers in Lee County to feed the hungry. To make it a success in Gateway, we need you help and we need a few volunteers.The 18th annual Stamp Out Hunger drive has become the largest one-day food drive in the country. Food collected in Lee County goes to the Harry Chapin Food Bank. The food collected on May 8 will provide assistance to the rapidly increasing number of Lee and Collier residents struggling with hunger.
Letter carriers, other postal employees, and volunteers will do their part on May 8 to provide as much food as possible. The Campbell Soup Company has been the principal corporate supporter for the NALC National Food Drive since 1997. Each year it prints postcards for delivery by letter carriers in the week before the food drive.
In 2009, Lee County customers donated over 405,000 pounds of food for the Harry Chapin Food Bank. This year, the goal is 500,000 pounds. The food will be distributed at no cost to the food bank's 170 participating agencies.
Gateway residents are asked to place non-perishable food in unbreakable containers next to their mailbox before their letter carrier delivers mail Saturday, May 8. The carrier and/or volunteers will do all the rest. And that's where we need some help this year. It's too much food for the postal employees to handle so we are looking for volunteers to help pick up the food and deliver it to the post office. If you can help please contact me as soon as possible. Or contact Debra Mitchell, 239-573-9638 at the Post Office.
