Send in Totals!
Branch coordinators should submit their official results immediately to NALC headquarters so a national total can be tabulated and branch results published in the Postal Record. Results must be received at NALC Headquarters by June 1 at the latest.
The final total will be announced June 7 at a “Rally Against Hunger” in Washington, DC in conjunction with National Hunger Awareness Day.
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The hard work and dedication of NALC members paid off again this year as Americans reached into their cupboards for an astounding amount of donations for the 13th annual NALC National Food Drive to help needy families throughout the nation.
Early returns showed record collections in some cities, while some others, especially those impacted by torrential rains on the Second Saturday in May, experienced a drop off from last year’s record haul.
The national total will be announced in coordination with National Hunger Awareness Day June 7, and will include results from branches in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Guam.
NALC President William H. Young thanked the thousands of letter carriers, rural carriers, and other postal employees and volunteers who collected and processed the donations.
“Many food banks and pantries were virtually out of supplies for the needy, but now will be able to assist families throughout the summer because of your willingness to help and the generosity of postal customers,” Young said. “I also want to thank the U.S. Postal Service and Campbell Soup Company, and the other national supporters of the drive: Valpak; America’s Second Harvest; United Way of America and local United Ways; the AFL-CIO and its affiliated unions, and our good friend Bil Keane.”
When May 14 arrived, everyone looked to the skies since weather can have a tremendous impact on the amount of food left by mailboxes. This year, much of the Heartland was drenched in sometimes torrential downpours. In parts of Indiana, Minnesota and Tennessee, newspapers reported that inclement weather reduced the normal amount of donations, in some cases by more than 30 percent from 2004.
But elsewhere, donations by postal customers made the day.
“The generosity is astronomical,” said Mike Callahan, coordinator for Pittsfield, Massachusetts NALC Br. 286 to the Berkshire Eagle.
Branch 938 Letter Carrier Jimmie Bennett in Hattiesburg, Mississippi echoed the feeling. “Just knowing that it’s going to a good cause, you don’t mind doing the extra work,” he told the Hattiesburg American.
Elmira, New York Br. 21 President Nick DeRico told the Star-Gazette: “I visited the food pantry and saw all these people putting in applications for food. You could tell they didn’t want to be there. It’s a sad thing. The food drive is a worthwhile cause.”
Jordan (Bud) Biscardo, United Way of America Vice President and Director of Labor Participation, passed on to NALC a message he received that summarizes how many in the anti-hunger community feel about letter carriers. It came from Clark Mandigo, chief operating officer for the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia which received 175,000 pounds of food from the drive.
“First of all, to all the members of the local chapters of the NALC, your work is more appreciated than you will ever know. To the USPS: your support is always invaluable,” Mandigo said. “This will go down as the most successful NALC/Postal Food Drive in the history of the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia. Nothing is better than that.”
“Because of you, someone will not have to go to bed hungry tonight,” he added.
Branch food drive coordinators should mail to NALC Headquarters photos, videos, newspaper and television clips, and other food drive material that can be used in reporting on this year’s drive and promoting the 2006 drive.
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