LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) — Mail carriers in the Lima area are once again working to “Stamp Out Hunger.”
On the second Saturday of May, letter carriers across the nation take part in what is considered one of the largest annual food drives. Letter carriers from the Lima Post Office collect donations from residents along their routes, with all contributions going to the West Ohio Food Bank to support families facing food insecurity.
“They have told us over the years is after the holiday season, the food pantries tend to go down a little bit, so this is a way to stock them back up heading into the summer months. And it's also for a letter carrier, it's a good way to meet even more of your customers and things like that. And I know when I first started, I took my family out with me, and they would help me pick up food. And it was a way for people to get to know us and us to get to know them,” says Matt Hager, Pres. National Association of Letter carriers branch 105.
Just one day of donations from residents can have a significant impact on the food bank’s ability to serve the community.
“Lately, it's been about 15,000 pounds that they brought in for us, sometimes a little more and but it's it's really a big thing we feed a lot of folks and all the counties, and it's just a great partnership with the Lima post office,” says Greg Cook, logistics coordinator for the West Ohio Food Bank.
Residents will receive reminder cards in the mail ahead of the drive. Letter carriers ask that anyone leaving donations place the card with their bag of food so it can be clearly identified for pickup.
