National Association of Letter Carriers to Help Stamp Out Hunger! On May 10, 2008

Nation's Largest Food Drive Helps Millions of Americans

Tulsa OK — In the city of Tulsa, members of the NALC Branch 1358 will collect nonperishable food from customers to be donated to the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma.  Last year this food drive collected over 265,000 pounds of food for relief programs the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma serves.

The U.S. Postal Service and Campbell Soup Company will once again partner to produce and mail 115 million postcards in early May to encourage participation. This year Reasor’s Foods is once again printing grocery bags that letter carriers will deliver to residents on May 8th and May 9th.  Printed on the bag will be information about the letter carriers’ food drive and an explanation of how to participate.  In addition to the grocery bags that can be left by your mailbox, a drive by donation drop off point has been designated at the R.W. Jenkins Station at 6910 S. Yorktown.  The Postal Service will have volunteers near the collection box drive through entrance for customers who would like to drop of their donation for the food drive.

Supporting the drive again this year are Campbell Soup Company, the U.S. Postal Service, America's Second Harvest - the Nation's Food Bank Network, Valpak - Cox Target Media, the AFL-CIO and United Way of America.

To help Stamp Out Hunger! in Tulsa this year, simply leave a sturdy bag containing non-perishable foods, such as canned soup, canned vegetables, pasta, rice or cereal next to your mailbox prior to the time of regular mail delivery on May 10th.  Food items should be in non-breakable containers, such as boxes and cans.  Or you can drop donations off at the R.W. Jenkins Station drive through location.  Local letter carriers will then collect donations from homes across the city and deliver them to the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma.   

"Hunger continues to be a vital concern in the United States," said William H. Young, NALC president.  "We see it in our everyday lives and on many of the routes we walk every day. Yet with donations from our generous customers and partners like Campbell Soup Company, who we've now been working with for over 10 years, I know we can help a significant number of people fight the battle against hunger."

THE FACE OF HUNGER
According to America's Second Harvest - The Nation's Food Bank Network, more than 35 million people are food insecure, hungry or at risk of hunger.  Approximately one in four people in a soup kitchen line is a child.

GETTING INVOLVED
Campbell’s is kicking off the 16th Annual Stamp Out Hunger! effort by donating one million pounds of food to food banks across the country.

"Even after 16 years, we still need everyone to get involved to truly make a difference," said Doug Conant, Campbell's president and chief executive officer.  "Remember to help us Stamp Out Hunger! on Saturday, May 10th!"