Letter Carriers Food Drive Set For May 13

Residents can help fight hunger on a local level by participating in a one-day collection of non-perishable food on Saturday, May 13.

The drive is sponsored by the National Association of Letter Carriers to replenish the local food pantries. Newtown letter carriers are asking residents to place non-perishable food items in plastic bags by their mailboxes by 10 am on the collection day. The bags of food will be collected by local volunteers or by letter carriers while making their normal mail delivery.

The eighth annual food collection is part of an effort by letter carriers in towns and cities across the country. Food donated locally benefits Newtown residents and is distributed through the FAITH Pantry in Sandy Hook and the Social Services Department’s food pantry, which is sponsored by the Salvation Army.

Collection bins also are available at the post offices on Commerce Road, Botsford, and Hawleyville until Saturday at noon. Residents and businesses wishing to donate gift certificates in lieu of donations of food can obtain them at Grand Union in Newtown. Local residents, members of churches, food pantry volunteers, and high school students are among the local volunteers who help collect, sort, and pack the food.

To volunteer, call Robert Fragione at 426-4271 or Ann Piccini of the Social Services Department at 270-4330. Mrs Piccini said the donated food stocks the emergency food pantries throughout the summer during a time when donations traditionally are low.