PrintFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Liz Carter (202) 268-5188
April 28, 2004 Postal Service Web Site: www.usps.com
News Release Number: 04-028
HELP STAMP OUT HUNGER: LEAVE FOOD DONATIONS AT YOUR MAILBOX MAY 8
WASHINGTON - On Saturday, May 8, you can make a difference for thousands of Americans by donating food as part of the National Association of Letter Carriers' (NALC) 12th annual "Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive." Nearly 229,000 letter carriers are preparing for the nation's largest one-day food drive in more than 10,000 cities and towns across America.Since the NALC Food Drive began in 1993, letter carriers and other Postal Service employees have collected and delivered 587 million pounds of food to help feed America's hungry. The U.S. Postal Service and Campbell Soup Company will once again partner to produce and mail 105 million postcards during the week of May 3 to encourage Americans to participate.
"Many of the recipients are from working families-people who just need a helping hand to get through some tough times," said NALC President William H. Young. "In the 2003 drive, letter carriers collected more than 61 million pounds of donations, an incredible result. This year we are determined to go even higher."
Making a donation is easy. Customers can leave their non-perishable food donation in a bag near their mailbox Saturday, May 8, before their letter carrier arrives. Letter carriers will collect the donations during normal deliveries. Postal customers in New York City and Chicago can take their donations to their local Post Office during the week of May 3-8. Customers who live on rural routes that are not part of the NALC national food drive can still participate by contacting their local food banks.
"Campbell Soup Company is proud to again support the National Association of Letter Carriers in your effort to Stamp Out Hunger," said Campbell Soup Company President and CEO, Douglas R. Conant. "This colossal effort by your organization truly touches every American, including our employees, families and friends."
Long-time supporters of the drive include Campbell Soup Company, America's Second Harvest, United Way and the AFL-CIO Community Services Network. Valpak Direct Marketing Systems joins the drive this year.
Since 1775, the U.S. Postal Service has connected friends, families, neighbors and businesses by mail. An independent federal agency, the Postal Service makes deliveries to about 141 million addresses every day and is the only service provider to deliver to every address in the nation. The Postal Service receives no taxpayer dollars for routine operations, but derives its operating revenues solely from the sale of postage, products and services. With annual revenues of more than $68 billion, it is the world's leading provider of mail and delivery services, offering some of the most affordable postage rates in the world. Moreover, today's postage rates will remain stable until at least 2006. The U.S. Postal Service delivers more than 43 percent of the world's mail volume -- some 202 billion letters, advertisements, periodicals and packages a year -- and serves seven million customers each day at its 38,000 retail locations nationwide.