05/12/06 — Mail carriers food drive Saturday

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Mail carriers food drive Saturday

By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on May 12, 2006 1:46 PM

Local mail carriers are hoping to collect 21,000 pounds of non-perishable food to benefit seven local charities and food banks in Wayne County this month.

The occasion is the National Association of Letter Carriers' annual food drive. On Saturday, more than 1,400 NALC branches in the United States will work together to feed the hungry.

Many charities find their food supplies running low this time of year. Unlike Christmas and Thanksgiving, when thoughts turn to food contributions, spring is a time when food closets need to be replenished.

Wayne County charities that will benefit from the drive are the City Rescue Mission of Goldsboro, Community Soup Kitchen of Goldsboro, The Lighthouse of Wayne County, The Salvation Army, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, United Church Ministries and Patetown Church of God.

The local letter carriers are asking residents with a Goldsboro zip code, 27530 through 27534, to donate nonperishable food items by, on or near their mailbox Saturday. The carriers will collect the food and deliver it to the William Street and Cashwell Drive postal offices.

Because of the collections, mail may run a little late, officials said.

No glass, including baby food containers, should be included in the donations.

Helping the letter carriers with their drive are community, church, business and agency volunteers.

Seymour Johnson Air Force Base will join carriers in sorting, loading and distributing the food. Security-Atlas Storage and The Community Soup Kitchen are lending large trucks to help in the storage and distribution of the collected food to participating agencies.