WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: Retired National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 3 President Robert McLennan, who now serves as Labor Liaison for State Senator Tim Kennedy of Buffalo, announced during the Buffalo AFL-CIO Central Labor Council Meeting that was held on Tuesday Evening (June 11th) that the Buffalo-Western New York Region Collected 1.5 Million Pounds of Food that was Donated Locally for the NALC Annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, which McLennan added Placed Our Region Within the Top 5 Across The United States.

(WASHINGTON) - The National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive Collected more than 74.4 million Pounds of Food that has gone to Help Restock Food Banks, Pantries and Shelters around the United States - an Impressive Result rendered all the More Necessary by the Struggling Economy and the Multiple Recent Natural Disasters.

The National May 11th Effort garnered 74.4 million Pounds of Food, which was an Increase of 5% over last year, said NALC Officials, who added the Total Amount of Food Collected was the Second Most Highest Total in the Drive's 2-year History.  The Increase was also the Highest Total Registered in a Decade.

"This Demonstrates in Clear Fashion the Value of the ‘Unique’ Postal Network, which goes to (151) million Addresses - Six Days a Week," NALC President Fredric Rolando said. "It also Shows the Remarkable Connection between Letter Carriers and the Communities they Serve - a ‘Bond’ that Serves the Nation Well."

The Nation's Largest Single-Day Food Drive, the NALC Effort is Held Annually on the Second Saturday in May in 10,000 Cities and Towns in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Guam.  From Major Metropolitan Areas to Small Rural Towns, Residents Put Out Non-Perishable Food Donations on that Day, which Letter Carriers Collect as they Deliver Mail along their Postal Routes.  "Letter Carriers see ‘First-Hand’ the Needs in the Communities Where We Work and We're Honored to be Able to Help People In Need by Leading an Effort that ‘Brings Out the Best’ in so many Americans," Rolando said.

The effort by 1,400 NALC Branches around the Country - including Branch 3 right here in Western New York - Would Not Have Been Possible without the Contributions of the National Partners: Feeding America; The Campbell Soup Company; The American Association of Retired People (AARP); Valpak Direct Marketing Systems; Valassis/Red Plum; The U.S. Postal Service, United Way Worldwide; The National AFL- CIO; Uncle Bob's Self Storage; The GLS Companies; Source Direct Plastics; and the Publix Grocery Store Chain.  That’s in addition to the Rural Letter Carriers and other Postal Employees, plus Members of many other Unions and Civic Volunteers, who also helped, as did Family Circus Cartoonist Jeff Keane.

"We Could Not Have Accomplished This Without the Hard-Working Team of Partners we have, ‘all’ Committed to Ending Hunger in our Country," Pam Donato, NALC community services coordinator, said.

The Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive Never Has Been More Important than In These Times, with Hunger a Growing Problem - affecting about 50 million People across the Country, including 17 million Children and Nine Million Senior Citizens.

Pantry Shelves Filled Up through Winter-Holiday Generosity often are Bare by late Spring.  And, with most School Meal Programs Suspended during Summer Months, Millions of Children must find Alternate Sources of Nutrition.

In addition, the Natural Disasters that parts of the U.S. have recently Endured - including the Tornadoes in Oklahoma and Super Storm Sandy along the East Coast - Magnified the Needs. 

Oklahoma Residents who Contributed to Record Collections soon became Recipients of the Public Generosity.  

"Thanks to Oklahoma City Area Letter Carriers, nearly (320,000) pounds of Food was Collected during the Letter Carriers' Food Drive," said Rodney Bivens, who serves as Executive Director of  the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, a Member of the Feeding America Network. "These Much-Needed Donations were Immediately Available to Families and Individuals Impacted by the May Tornadoes."

And some Northeastern Areas affected by Hurricane Sandy, including in Vermont and New Jersey, Set Food-Collection Records - Despite the Hardships Residents had been through.

"These Events show the ‘Good Will’ of People, Good Will that in Such Times is Both ‘More’ Necessary and ‘More’ Impressive," NALC President Rolando said.