The National Association of Letter Carriers, in cooperation with the Unites States Postal Service, is holding their annual ‘Stamp Out Hunger? drive this Saturday, May 8, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
‘This is an annual event nationwide,? said Vicky Haist, an Oxford letter carrier and food coordinator for this area. ‘This is the fifth year we’ve done this in Oxford. Every year so far we’ve picked up close to 7,000 pounds of food.?
Letter carriers are asking residents to assist with the drive by placing food contributions either nearby or in their mailboxes. Donations can include any non-perishable food items such as canned soup, juice, pasta, canned vegetables, cereal, rice, pop, baby food or baby formula.
‘We accept pretty much anything people want to put out,? said Haist. ‘I remember one year we even picked up food for animals. We’ve also had people just donate money.?
‘If we see it by the mailbox, we’ll pick it up. A lot of people will take the notices we have and attach them to the donation so we know what to take.?
The food items can be placed in either a bag or box, and volunteers with the Oxford Post Office will be picking the items up during the carrier’s normal delivery hours.
One important aspect of the drive is that all donations remain local. Haist said everything collected by the Oxford Post Office will be given to Oxford/Orion FISH for distribution to local needy families.
‘It stays right here in our community,? she said. ‘We bring in the food, weigh it, and then FISH comes here and takes it away for distribution.?
‘I’ve been told by FISH organizers that this is a very important drive for them. The donations they receive from this last them until their Christmas drives.?
For more information on the ‘Stamp Out Hunger? drive, please contact the Oxford Post Office at 248-628-3943.