Saturday, May 12, 2012

Help Stamp Out Hunger


Today is the 20th annual nationwide USPS food drive.  You can read more about it here or here.  Though, if you haven’t been living under a rock, like I apparently have, for the past 20 years you probably already know about it.  I’m still trying to figure out how I’ve missed this one all these years, but I’m very excited to be able to participate in this year’s food drive.

The concept is fairly simple; the USPS asks everyone to collect non-perishable foods and put them in a bag next to their mailbox before the usual pick-up/delivery time today, and the letter carriers will pick them up and take them to local food pantries.  They even provide a large paper bag for you.  At least they did this year; it was in our mailbox on Thursday, which is the only reason I know about it this year.  Not only do they make it super easy to participate that way, but it’s a great reminder. 

I have to say I love this idea.  As I’ve mentioned before, I’m a big believer in volunteering to do something to help others.  I firmly believe in the idea that no one has to (or can) do everything, but we all can and should do something.  This food drive definitely seems to work in harmony with that belief; no one is being asked to buy groceries for everyone who doesn’t have enough to eat, but everyone is being asked to share what they’re able.  I can’t help thinking how much food would be provided if everyone just put three items in their bag.  That’s a lot of food! 

7 comments:

  1. Those are going to be some tired postal workers at the end of the day.

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  2. This was my first year hearing of it, Danielle. The bag was left in my mailbox. I was thinking the same thing as Delores, as my bag was pretty full. :)

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  3. I read in the paper this week that the county we live in donated over 50,000 pounds of food, and broke all records!

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  4. We've participated in it for at least the last 7-8 years. I just love driving around and looking at bags of food in front of people's mail boxes; it is so neat to see the generosity of others!

    betty

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    1. It is fun to see everyone's bags out. Almost everyone on our street participated, so that was kind of neat to see.

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  5. I must live in the rock next to yours because this is the first I've ever heard of it. We didn't receive a grocery bag so maybe we don't stamp out hunger here?

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