One of the biggest food drives of the year to benefit low-income families in Northern Kentucky is set for Saturday, May 13. And donors won’t have to go any further than their mailboxes to participate.
On that day, residents and businesses are asked to leave nonperishable food by their mailboxes, where their carriers will pick it up and get it to one of 11 nonprofits that provide food assistance to people who desperately need it.
The effort by National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 374 is part of the national Stamp Out Hunger drive, the largest such event in the U.S. Branch 374 carriers have participated since the drive started nationally 22 years ago, and last year they collected nearly 55,000 lbs. of food.
Photo from a previous drive.
The timing of the drive couldn’t be more opportune, said Andy Brunsman, director of Be Concerned, a free food pantry in Covington that hosted more than 2,000 shopper visits in the first quarter of 2017.
Food supplies from holiday donations have been depleted and the drive gives agencies an opportunity to restock their shelves.
“Summer time is a slow time for donations because schools are out,” he said. “This drive helps to fill the void caused by the summer break.”
The drive makes for a long day for mail carriers, who in addition to their typical load of magazines, letters and bills must also tote food their route customers donate.
But carriers say it’s worth it, said Gary Smith, who is heading up the effort for Letter Carriers Drive 374.
Branch 374 has collaborated with the Safety Net Alliance of Northern Kentucky on the drive the past five years. The Safety Net is a collaborative of more than 150 organizations – nonprofits, churches, schools, government entities – that works to eliminate duplication and maximize efficiencies in services to low-income residents.
In addition to Be Concerned, agencies that will receive food from the drive are Action Ministries in Latonia; Fairhaven Mission and St. Augustine Outreach Center in Covington; Brighton Center, St. Paul Episcopal Church Pantry and Henry Hosea House Soup Kitchen in Newport; Care Mission in Alexandria; Pantry of Hope in Highland Heights; United Ministries in Erlanger; St. Bernard Pantry in Bellevue and the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
