Letter carriers to pick up food
For 24 years, letter carriers across the nation, including in Porterville and Lindsay, have gone beyond their normal duties on one Saturday in May to help others.
This year will be no exception.
The 25th annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive sponsored by the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union is this Saturday when residents will be asked to put out with their outgoing mail food items to help those less fortunate.
Local carrier and food drive chairman Ray Holdsworth noted the need in the Porterville area remains great.
He noted in a letter that summer months are critical for families because children are not in school where they can get breakfast and lunch. And, some drought assistance, such as the weekly food giveaway, is ending.
Saturday morning, letter carriers in Porterville, Lindsay and surrounding rural areas will during their normal routes pick up at residences any food which can be donated. The effort often requires carriers to make several return trips.
Last year, they picked up approximately 30,000 pounds of a food, a 30 percent increase over the previous year.
The food letter carriers will pickup will be distributed to local food banks including Helping Hands, the Porterville Area Coordinating Council, Catholic Charities and the Gleaners.
Holdsworth said approximately 30 carriers will be involved in the drive locally. He said the food will be dropped off at the Gleaners headquarters on South Main Street where it will be sorted and distributed.
Residents are asked to leave outside their mailbox non-perishable items such as canned meats, vegetables and fruit, as well as items like pasta, cereal, peanut butter, beans and rice. It is preferred those items be placed in a bag for easy pickup and no glass containers be included.
Donations may also be left in the Post Office lobby.
