Above / During last week’s City Council meeting a Mayor’s Proclamation was read to promote the 2018 Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive on May 12. Pictured during the presentation are Mike Young, Acting Postmaster of Naperville; Lyphus Stevensen, NALC Branch 1151 President – Naperville; Diane Ramonas, Loaves & Fishes (L&F) Community Relations Mgr; Nancy Wiersum, L&F VP of Advancement; Maria Espinosa, USPS Branch Coordinator; Cary Gilkey, L&F VP of Operations; and Patty Gustin, Councilwoman, City of Naperville & Mayor Pro Tem.
(Naperville, IL – May 7, 2018) The National Association of Letter Carriers and the National Rural Letter Carriers Association will mobilize with the assistance of Loaves & Fishes Community Services during the 26th Annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. Each year, residents are encouraged to place non-perishable items in bags by their mailboxes the morning of Saturday, May 12, for collection by postal carriers, Loaves & Fishes volunteers and community members.
Michael Young, Acting Postmaster of Naperville, stated that although the collection takes additional time, the letter carriers are entirely supportive.
“I love seeing the faces of the letter carriers when they come back with full trucks of food,” Young said. “They know there’s a need out there, that hungry people are in our community, and they want to help.”
Last year marked the largest food drive in Loaves & Fishes’ history, totaling more than 97,000 pounds of food. Loaves & Fishes Vice President of Operations Cary Gilkey noted this large amount helps maintain a variety of products on market shelves through the summer.
“We are honored to participate in this food drive and appreciate the letter carriers and the generosity of our community,” said Gilkey. “We serve about 800 families in our market each week. We encourage residents to donate nutritious, healthy food such as whole wheat and grain products, and items containing less sodium or sugar.”
Stamp Out Hunger Kick Off is 8:30AM on May 10
A Stamp Out Hunger kick-off event will take place at 8:30AM on Thursday, May 10, at the Naperville USPS at 1750 W. Ogden Avenue. Loaves & Fishes staff, USPS officials and a representative from Naperville City Council will thank the letter carriers for their great efforts.
Postcard reminders and paper bags are distributed by letter carriers a few days before the collection. More information about the National Letter Carriers’ Food Drive can be found at www.nalc.org/community-service/food-drive or www.loaves-fishes.org/stamp-out-hunger/.
Since 1984, Loaves and Fishes Community Services…
Loaves & Fishes Community Services is a registered 501(c)(3) organization that has served our community since 1984. Our mission is to end hunger and transform lives. We provide food and leadership in the community by working together and mobilizing resources to help our clients become more self-sufficient and create their own bright future stories.
Story submitted by Michelle Iskowitz for Loaves and Fishes Community Services. (PN Photos).
