Help your mail carrier stamp out hunger on May 9

Date: 5/4/2009

By Katelyn Gendron

Reminder Assistant Editor



It's time to "stamp out hunger," and for good this time!

Local mailmen and women will collect non-perishable food items as well as the mail on May 9 during the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) 17th annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. Over 250,000 pounds of food were left by mailboxes last year and delivered to food pantries all over the Pioneer Valley.

"The letter carriers can see the [economic] hardships [suffered by those] in the neighborhoods where they're delivering [mail]," Vincent Siniscalchi, NALC Branch 46 Food Drive Coordinator, said. "The demand [for this food drive] is greater because of the downturn in the economy . more people than ever are applying for assistance at the food pantries."

"The postal service is facing a hardship too," he continued. "Our labor costs are up and [mail] volume is going down but at food drive time we can appreciate that we're working [for those with greater needs]."

Siniscalchi said he hopes to break last year's record of 252,245 pounds, which were distributed to 24 food pantries in Western Massachusetts. He noted that food collected in each community is delivered to that town's food pantry only.

"Our shelves are starting to get pretty bare and we do need extra help from the people of this city," Don Wielgus, member of the Board of Directors for the Westfield Emergency Food Pantry, said.

Ron DeMatteo, food coordinator at the Bethany Assembly of God in Agawam, noted that last year's response to the call of food was immense. He said they received a record 11 tons of food during last year's NALC Food Drive, as opposed to the nine tons received historically.

Kevin Noonan, executive director of Open Pantry Community Services Inc. in Springfield, said he is "optimistic" about this year's food drive.

"[It] has been our experience when people are experiencing [difficult economic times they say to themselves], 'It's hard for me so it must be terrible for someone less fortunate.' People tend to step up and do the right thing," he said.

Noonan noted that the Open Pantry receives approximately 40,000 pounds of food annually from the NALC Food Drive.

Candace Larger, program director of Emergency Food Pantry at Open Pantry Community Services Inc., explained that those seeking assistance receive enough food for one week. She added that services are also available to "anyone who doesn't have a food pantry" in their community.

All non-perishable food items must be bagged and placed by the mailbox prior to daily postal pickup/delivery on May 9.

For additional information on the Western Massachusetts Branch 46 NALC Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, call 737-0640, e-mail nalc46@nalc46.org or visit www.nalc.org.