Food Drive set for Saturday

By JAINE TREADWELL

Features Editor

On Saturday the United States Post Office will do a good deed for Uncle Sam’s nieces and nephews.

May 12 is the Letter Carriers

Annual National Food Drive and post offices in Troy, Banks, Brundidge and Goshen will participate.

As the letter carriers deliver mail along their routes, they will collect food that residents donate to the Salvation Army’s food bank program.

Residents are asked to contribute any non-perishable food items to the drive by placing them in or beside the mailbox. All items collected in Pike County will be distributed locally to benefit people in emergency situations.

"Each year, the post office assists the Salvation Army by collecting non-perishable food donations from residents who are generous and gracious in making contributions to our food bank," said Cindy Duke, director of the Salvation Army Service Center in Troy. "Without these donations, we would not be able to meet the needs that arise in our area."

Duke said the Salvation Army Service Center in Troy provides emergency food for an average of 100 people each month.

"The food bank is for people who need temporary assistance because of emergency situations," Duke said. "We appreciate the post offices in Pike County and the postal workers, because this is extra work for them. They have always been so supportive of the food drive and we just can’t thank them enough."

Cody Ward, Troy postmaster, said in the event of inclement weather, food packages that are too large to fit in the mailbox may be left on the porch or at the door.

"Just leave the carrier a note to that effect and he or she will pick up the items," he said. "The Letter Carries National Food Drive benefits a lot of people, and the good thing is that the food items collected in Pike County are used locally. Cindy Duke said the food collected last year was almost enough to meet the emergency needs for an entire year. Without the letter carriers’ food drive, she said the food bank program here would really suffer. People are generous in their giving and our carriers are happy to be part of this food drive."

Ward said there will also be a container in the lobby of the Troy post office and items may be dropped off there. Items may also be handed to the window clerks.

Participating in the food drive does take extra effort on the part of the postal workers, but Ward said it’s worth it, "for all the good it does."

Residents who are going to be away from home on Saturday may leave their donations on Friday and those who forget may put them out on Monday.

"If people want to donate, we’ll pick it up," Ward said.