by Bella Caggiano

Helping feed the hungry and local residents  is as easy as mailing a letter...without getting into a car or a trip to the post office. On Saturday, May 13, letter carriers will be picking up non-perishable food throughout Norwood neighborhoods as part of the 31st Annual Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. This event is the largest one-day food drive in the country…and Norwood residents can be a part of this national campaign!

Participating is easy! On this day, rain or shine, when Norwood residents leave marked bags of non-perishable food by their mailbox in the morning, mail carriers will pick up the packages during their regular delivery routes and deliver them to the Norwood Ecumenical Food Pantry. All types of non-perishable food are welcome, including peanut butter, coffee, canned fruit, canned tomato sauces/paste, diced and whole tomatoes, canned meat and hash. The only requirement is that all cans and boxes must be new and in good condition. Anything outdated or opened has to be thrown away for health reasons.

Local food banks and pantries suggested this late spring date would best benefit their diminishing shelves from the influx of donations received during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday seasons.

Norwood is one of 10,000 cities and towns across America taking part in the Letter Carriers’ Food Drive. The national effort began in 1992 and letter carriers, represented by the National Association of Letter Carriers, postal employees, volunteers, and sponsoring organizations, and collect tens of millions of pounds of food to help those in need.  More than 34 million American experience food insecurity and rely on food donations.

Any donation, large or small is greatly appreciated. So look through your pantry or pick up a few items at the grocery store and place them in a marked bag by the mailbox the morning of Saturday, May 13. This drive is another shining example of local residents joining in this national event to achieve a common goal: to give back to those who are struggling to put food on their tables.