Saturday, May 10

“As a letter carrier, I visited people’s homes, andsaw many families struggling on a daily basis to make ends meet. Being a part of the NALC food drive gives me a chance to help.” — Dave McGann, retired letter carrier and food drive volunteer

PORTLAND, Ore.— Close to 3,000 letter carriers throughout Oregon and Clark County, Wash., will join with letter carriers across America to collect donations of nonperishable food from their postal customers during the annual National Association of Letter Carriers Food Drive, Saturday, May 10.

Look for a yellow, plastic food drive bag in your mail during the first week of May. Fill the bag with nutritious, nonperishable food and place it by your mailbox early on Saturday, May 10. Letter carriers will collect nonperishable food donations left by mailboxes and take them to their local post office. Trucks will pick up the food and deliver it to regional food banks of the Oregon Food Bank Network. All donated food stays in the community where it was collected.

If you miss your letter carrier’s daily visit, drop off your food donations at any post office by Wednesday, May 14.

This year’s goal is to collect two-million pounds of food during the National Association of Letter Carriers Food Drive. Last year’s NALC Food Drive raised more than 1.6-million pounds of food throughout Oregon and southwest Washington.

Most wanted foods include: tuna fish, soups, stews, chili, canned fruits, vegetables, beans, rice and pasta.

Do NOT include glass items, homemade items or previously opened containers.

“Food drives like National Association of Letter Carriers provide a critical source of much needed nutritious, shelf-stable food,” says Rachel Bristol, OFB’s executive director and CEO. This high-quality food is particularly important for the growing bodies and brains of the estimated 72,000 children each month who eat meals from emergency food boxes.”

The NALC food drive is made possible by support from the U.S. Postal Service and many Oregon unions and other organizations including:

Oregon AFCSME Council 75, Oregon AFL-CIO, AFSCME Multnomah County Employee Local 88, SEIU Local 503, International Association of Fire Fighters, UFCW 555, Columbia Pacific Building & Construction Trades Council, Clackamas County Professional Fire Fighters Local 1159, Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters, Oregon Public Employees Union, Construction & General Laborer's Union Local 320, NALC, APWU Portland, NPMHU Portland, Willamette Lodge No. 63 IAM & AW, Joint Council of Teamsters No. 37, Woodworkers District 1 - IAM & AW, D1 PCD MEBA, OR, S. ID & WY District Council of Laborers, Mt. Hood Lodge # 1005 IAM & AW, Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 290, Bricklayers & Allied Craft Workers Local 1, Oregon Rural Letter Carriers Association, Oregon Food Bank, KINK FM 102, 101 KUFO, 98.7 KUPL, AM 970, MOViN 107.5, K-HITS 106.7 and OregonLive.com.

For more information or to make a cash donation, call 1-800-777-7427 or
503-282-0555 or visit www.oregonfoodbank.org.

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With food prices rising, the economy slumping, and more and more American families struggling to get by, help is needed more than ever.

Between May 1 and May 15, the Oregon Food Bank’s Food Barrels will be set up in the KOIN tower, KOIN News 6 Studios and Caprial’s Kitchen to accept donations of non-perishable food items.

KOIN’s food drive coincides with the National Letter Carrier Association’s annual “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive, scheduled for May 10.  

For more information, including a list of the most needed food donations we well as a link for secure cash donations, visit www.koin.com.  Let’s work together to restock the shelves of the Oregon Food Bank and do our part to make sure no Oregonian goes hu