Local letter carriers will join Florida’s National Association of Letter Carriers annual campaign, STAMP OUT HUNGER, the largest single-day food drive in the country that will be held on Saturday, May 12 this year.
The food drive will benefit the Bogalusa Help Center.
“The sign as on office says, ‘Thanksgiving is everyday of the year at Bogalusa Help Center,” said Help Center Director Gene Hayman. “And Mothers Day the next day to celebrate to mothers everywhere for their love and concern for all of us. That love and concern for others is our motto at the Bogalusa Help Center all year long as we provide food for nearly 400 families each month, made possible for over 30 years by our friends who share our mission.
“We hope and pray for good support for the postal food drive so we can save some of our other gifts our other gifts with major roof repairs. Of course, food is the number one thing to do.
“Our good postal friends will be working hard that day, because they care for our neighbors. So please put your food donations in bags by your mailbox for them to deliver to us. We really appreciate your support. Come see us any Wednesday morning, and see the smiles on the faces as folks receive their food.
“Yes, It’s easy to smile when someone cares.
“Thanks for caring.”
Hayman said he estimates 6,000 to 7,000 pounds of food was collected during last year’s local drive.
“It was less than earlier years maybe up to 10,000 pounds earlier,” he said. “The Post Office weighed earlier years, but that was not easily done so it quit. We are sharing each month around 400 families, and larger families of three get twice as much. The more we receive the more we put in the bags and saves us on actual cash outlay for fresh bread, fruits, meats…all appreciated, and we pray for better support this year.
“We have served up to 525 families after Katrina, about 15 new families each month.
We serve everyone who applies. Maybe the local economy is getting better?”