Published: May 07, 2009 11:07 am      

United Way, postal carriers battling hunger one can at a time

Organizers of a local food drive want to help stamp out hunger with one can of food at a time — but they’ll need a little help from McAlester residents.

It can be as easy as setting some canned food or other nonperishable food next to a mailbox.

Members of the National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 1166 are joining with the United Way for the Help Stamp Out Hunger Day food drive on Saturday.

Christopher Jacob and John Browne, of the National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 1166, have joined with Yvette Martin of the United Way for the project.

“It’s convenient for people to give food,” Martin said. “All they have to do is take it out on Saturday and leave it where their mailbox is.”

Letter carriers will pick up the food when they deliver the mail, she said.

“The food will be given to local food banks and kitchens,” Martin said.

Those holding the food drive are hoping for lots of contributions. Last year’s drive raised more than 7,000 pounds of food locally, Martin said.

She noted that many households will have increased food needs now that school is almost out for the summer.

“A lot of kids eat breakfast and lunch at school, and now they will be at home,” she said.

McAlester Mayor Kevin Priddle has signed a proclamation declaring Saturday to be Stamp Out Hunger Day.

“There are many needs in our society today,” Priddle said. “It’s easy to forget that some people struggle on a day-to-day basis with basic human needs.”

“This is a great way to let our local food banks get the supplies they need.”

The letter carriers said they were aware of similar food drives this weekend in Wilburton, Atoka, Durant, Hugo, Idabel and Broken Bow.

“We appreciate all the help we get from United Way,” said Jacob, who is the food drive coordinator for Branch 1166 of the National Association of Letter Carriers.

This will mark the 17th annual food drive conducted by the letter carriers’ union. It’s also a big drive nationally, raising more than 73.1 million pounds of food, Martin said.

Many food banks are down by 20 to 25 percent in donations because of the economy, she said.

“There’s a U.S. Department of Agriculture statistic that shows one out of six households are food-insecure households — which means they don’t know where their next meal is coming from.”

The letter carriers are glad to assist with the drive, according to Browne.

“This is one day we don't mind carrying extra,” he said at the April 28 city council meeting.

Contact James Beaty at jbeaty@mcalesternews.com.