This weekend means much for food pantries across the nation, thanks to the U.S. Postal Service.
The 25th annual Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive Saturday, May 13. You might have seen a collection bag left by your mailbox.
In Rhinelander, Postmaster Anthony Turek says the donation is easy to do....
"....all they need do is leave a sturdy bag. For most residents we provided a bag, but if they want to they can use their own, any type of grocery bag, containing any type of non-perishable food item such as canned soup and vegetables, peanut butter, pasta, rice, cereal. All they need to do is leave the bag next to their mailbox prior to their regular delivery time on Sat. May 13 and the Letter Carriers as they deliver the mail will collect that food....."
He says locally and across the nation, the public has been generous...
"....from 1993 until now, nationally, this food drive has collected 1.5 billion pounds of food which is an astonishing number. Last year alone, amazingly generous Americans donated 80.1 million pounds of food and locally, last year the Rhinelander Post Office collected over 8,000 pounds of food, which for a office our size is a terrific amount...."
Turek says the Letter Carriers will bring the food back to the post office Saturday where they will hold onto it for a couple days. He says if you can't donate Saturday, you can bring your donation to the post office early next week. Locally, the food goes to the Rhinelander Area Food Pantry.
