Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive

Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive
On Saturday, May 9, 2015, in conjunction with the National Association of Letter Carriers and the United States Postal Service, the United Way of Ulster County, and the Kingston Post Office are coordinating a countywide food drive to collect food for local food pantries.

“Food pantries are still seeing record numbers of clients,” says Su Marcy, United Way Vice President. “Going into the summer season is a challenge for families with children home from school who would normally take advantage of school meal programs. As a result, pantries traditionally see an increase in demand over the summer months,” she said. Last year’s food drive brought in 12,000 pounds of food that was distributed to 25 food pantries throughout Ulster County. This year’s goal is to collect 20,000 pounds of food.

You can help by leaving non-perishable food items such as pasta, rice, dry milk, cereal, peanut butter, and canned fruit/meat/vegetables (please NO glass containers), for your letter carrier on Saturday, May 9th or by bringing donations to your local post office beginning Monday, May 4th.

Requested Items for Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive
Non Perishable Food Items
Pasta
Rice
Cereal
Canned Vegetables
Canned Fruits
Canned Meats – i.e. tuna, spam, ham, etc.
Tomato sauce/Spaghetti Sauce
Soups
One Pot Meals – ravioli, spaghettios, etc.
Powdered Milk
Peanut Butter

Please NO GLASS jars, and please check expiration dates.

For more information about the annual Letter Carriers’ Food Drive effort in your community, ask your letter carrier, follow the drive at www.twitter.com/StampOutHunger or go to nalc.org.

U-Team Opportunity!
WHAT: Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, a community effort to reduce hunger
WHEN: Saturday, May 9
WHERE: USPS Main Kingston Post Office,
WHO/WHY: USPS Letter Carriers of Ulster County (in conjunction with carriers throughout the U.S.) pick up donated food (from Ulster County residents along their routes) which is then brought back to Kingston. Volunteers are onsite to collect, sort, weigh and help load up food shares to be delivered to many local food pantries and kitchens. In order for a pantry/kitchen to get a share they must have their own volunteers onsite also.
JOB&SHIFT: Volunteers needed for all shifts- you pick.
Job is the same for all shifts– Once food begins arriving, follow lead of returning volunteers by helping to sort food by placing it into labeled sections such as boxed pastas, canned food, fruit, etc. The food in each section is then boxed up and labeled. After all food has been completely sorted, each pantry/kitchen volunteers pull their wagon pallet from section to section receiving their share. Next each pallet is weighed to ensure that the shares are evenly divided among all. Finally, some of us help load the shares into vehicles while others pick up and sweep the large platform we’ve worked on all day.
12:30-3
3-5:30
5:30-8ish (may end sooner or a little later depending on how much food is collected)
DETAILS: Park anywhere in the post office lot except up next to the loading platform. Check-in with Su Marcy, coordinator of volunteers and the sorting part of this food drive. Wear comfortable clothes that can get dirty. Platform is roofed so inclement weather is unimportant. If possible bring a few medium sized boxes, a hand dispenser with a couple rolls of tape and a large colored marker
PERKS: Free bottled water anytime throughout day and one free food item.