Postal service food drive to make the rounds on May 13

Postal carriers and patrons can deliver assistance right to the Henry County Help Center’s door through the Stamp Out Hunger food drive May 13.
While collecting on their normal mail routes, postal workers will also pick up donations of non-perishable food items to benefit those in need here in Henry County, according to Postmaster John Donnelly. This gives everybody involved a chance to serve their community.
“To remember those who are less fortunate and hope we can help them,” he said
The food drive encourages donation of items like canned meats, fish, soup, juice, vegetables, pasta, cereal, peanut butter and rice.
Postal patrons have been extremely generous during the food drives since 2014.
When the postal workers set a goal of 1,000 pounds of non-perishable goods, donations exceeded that by 1,300 pounds. In 2015, when the post offices tripled the goal from the year before, citizens topped that number, too, giving 3,561 pounds for the mail carriers to send to the help center. Donnelly noted that local residents have given generously in the past.
When it comes to the help center, Donnelly said he’s in awe of what the all-volunteer organization does and the amount of assistance it gives the community. Postal workers want to support that mission.
The postal service requests no glass containers or expired items during the food drive.
If postal patrons don’t want to leave the food sitting out by their mailboxes on May 13, they are welcome to bring it directly to the post office and employees will take it from there, Donnelly said. Nor do those willing to help have to wait until the day of the food drive — they can drop their donations off at the post office now through May 13.