Letter Carriers’ Food Drive Set For Saturday, May 13

By Kaaren Valenta

When Robert Frangione started running the annual letter carriers’ food drive three years ago, he never thought his family would need to use an emergency food pantry.

“I’ve been working for the post office for 15 years, making a good salary, and I thought food pantries were for people who were homeless or on assistance,” he said.

But he injured his back last summer, resulting in herniated disks and a lot of pain, and was unable to work. Because of a paperwork problem, he didn’t receive a paycheck for 16 weeks.

“I finally called Congressman [James] Maloney’s office and got it straightened out,” Mr Frangione said. “But before that happened, my family had to use the food pantry. I understand now how really important it is for everyone.”

On Saturday, May 13, members of the National Association of Letter Carriers will sponsor their eighth national food drive. The drive is conducted at a time when food banks begin to see the depletion of the food supplies conducted during the holidays.

All residents are being asked to place non-perishable food items next to their mailboxes by 10 am on May 13. The food will be picked up by volunteers for delivery to the Salvation Army food pantry at Edmond Town Hall and the FAITH food pantry at St John’s Episcopal Church in Sandy Hook.

“Last year we collected between 10,000 and 12,000 pounds of food,” Mr Frangione said. “People aren’t just cleaning out their pantries. Maybe they did that years ago, but now they are going out to Grand Union, Big Y, or Stop & Shop and are spending a dollar or $15 on extra food for people who need it.”

Last year the letter carriers’ food drive resulted in 58.4 million pounds of food nationwide. This year it is co-sponsored by the US Postal Service, the AFL-CIO, the United Way, Campbell Soup, and Saturn.

Volunteers are needed to collect the food. Local residents, members of churches, food pantry volunteers, and high school students are among those who have helped in previous years.    

Mr Frangione said the volunteer effort is great to see. “It’s getting better each year,” he said.

As chairman of the effort, Mr Frangione organizes routes for the volunteers and works with local businesses for donations of food certificates for perishable items. He said Dunkin Donuts, My Place, Grand Union, and the Italian Pavilion would be among the local participants again this year. Residents and businesses wishing to donate gift certificates in lieu of donations of food can obtain them at Grand Union in Newtown.

Bins for food collection also have been placed in grocery stores, at Edmond Town Hall, and at the post offices on Commerce Road, in Botsford, and Hawleyville.

To volunteer, call Mr Frangione at 426-4271, or Ann Piccini of the Social Services Department at 270-4330.

Mrs Piccini said she has made up flyers and is putting them around town to encourage people to volunteer.

“If they can volunteer even just an hour, it would be a big help,” she said.

Volunteers will begin working about 9:30 am on May 13. About 10 am, after maps of routes are passed out, they will leave the post office to collect the food so the carriers don’t have to take it all in their trucks. Volunteers also work at the Commerce Road Post Office between 1 and 5 pm to sort and organize the canned goods for delivery to the FAITH Pantry and the Social Services Department which distribute the food as needed.

“The donations hold us until the [Thanksgiving-Christmas] collections,” Mrs Piccini said. “In years before by summertime the food pantries would be really sparse.”

Mrs Piccini suggested the residents might also donate personal care items such as shampoo, detergent, toothpaste, and disposable diapers.

The day is rewarding for donors and volunteers alike, Mr Frangione said.

“You get a good feeling after doing it,” he said. “On this one day, everyone has one goal, just to help people.”