On Saturday, May 11, 2013 in over 10,000 cities across America, Letter Carriers will be collecting non-perishable food items left out in or near mailboxes by customers along their mail routes.  This will mark the 21st year of what has come to be known as Our Country’s Largest One Day Food Drive. The National Association of Letter Carriers, along with RuralLetter Carriers, USPS employees, AFL-CIO, United Way, Feeding America, national and local businesses, community partners and volunteers work together to address the issue of hunger in America.

Locally, to date, this drive has collected nearly 4 million pounds of non-perishable food items. In statistics compiled by Feeding America, while I in 5 children under 18 years of age in America are experiencing Food Insecurity, last year’s figures showed over 27% of the children in Genesee County were at Food Insecurity Risk. This problem has spread way beyond the Flint City limits. This is a county wide problem with school districts, many of which are feeding at least 50% of their student population 2 out of 3 of their daily meals. Several districts are also providing dinner programs as well. Thousands of parents in Genesee County now have to choose between being able to pay for other basic needs expenses such as shelter and utilities and/or being able to purchase nutritionally adequate food. This is a heartbreaking decision for any parent to have to make.

On Saturday, May 11, 2013 we are asking for your help by securely placing non-perishable either canned, boxed or bagged food items such as soup, cereal, noodles, etc. near your mailbox for your letter carrier to pick up or you can drop the items at your post office. You can help make a difference. Hunger does not outwardly define itself. It may not have a recognizable face. It could very well be worn by your elderly neighbor, or a child playing alongside your son, daughter or grandchildren at school. How do you really know? Just know with definite assurance, your compassion and generosity will bring a smile to a child, parent or senior citizen’s face that otherwise might not have had a meal to sit down to.

For further information on how you can help, you can call Cindy Cromwell, the AFL-CIO Community Services Liaison at United Way of Genesee County at (810) 762-5827.

Click here to download the “Letter Carriers Food Drive” Flyer.