Postal carrier food drive sets record (73.1 million pounds of donated food )

[Omaha Steve]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080602/ap_on_go_ot/mail_food

Mon Jun 2, 11:26 AM ET

WASHINGTON - The annual food drive of the nation's mail carriers collected a record 73.1 million pounds of donated food this year, union officials said Monday.

The National Association of Letter Carriers said the food was delivered to local food banks, pantries and shelters in communities where it was collected.

"It is heartwarming that in these difficult times, when all families are feeling the effects of high food and gasoline prices, that so many Americans put aside their own financial concerns to help others facing hard times," NALC president William H. Young said in a statement.

The May 10 drive totaled 73,113,915 pounds of nonperishable food collected in more than 10,000 cities and towns. The amount was 2.4 million pounds larger than last year and surpassed the previous record of 71.3 million pounds collected in 2005.

The union's West Coast Florida branch, headquartered in the St. Petersburg area, took top honors among the nearly 1,500 local branches that conducted drives, collecting 1,717,218 pounds of donations.

[myrna minx]

1. That makes me want to cry. These times are tough, and that

we Americans are so compassionate, makes me so proud.

[Breeze54]

2. Please cross post this in GD! Many there donated and participated!

This is just awesome!!! :D

Thanks, Steve!

[Omaha Steve]

6. Done

Good idea. I was going to post it there to start with and changed my mind.

[Triana]

3. Awesome! I'm happy to have been a part of that. They should do it a little more often...

...especially right now. It's good for people to stick together and help each other.

[PetrusMonsFormicarum]

4. Awesome!

I dutifully filled the bag left by our carrier, and saw several other bags on neighbors' doorsteps, but that number is great!

Now if I could just get them to recycle all that junk mail . . .

[maddezmom]

5. Thanks for posting this

My daughter and I filled up a bag and brought it to our mailman that morning. I think this deserves to be in GD as well, I know quite a few here that participated and would love to read the outcome. :)

[roguevalley]

7. i put food on my mailbox and they came, delivered the mail and LEFT

THE FOOD! I was verklempt.