NALC Food Drive set for Saturday, May 9

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - With the Second Harvest Food Bank of North Florida facing its greatest demand for food in the agency's 29-year history, it is calling on the First Coast community to join in the cause of fighting hunger and also provide important food resources for its neighbors in need during the May 9 "Stamp Out Hunger" food drive sponsored by the National Association of Letter Carriers.
 
This year's food drive may be the most important ever for Second Harvest and other nonprofit organizations in northeast Florida, according to executive director Wayne Rieley, who said the Food Bank has already provided 1.97 million meals this year - 297,000 more meals than at this time a year ago. Demand for resources from Second Harvest increased by more than 32 percent in 2008, according to Rieley, and that increase has not slowed this year.
 
Food distribution at Second Harvest has steadily risen in recent years, from 6.62 million pounds in 2007, to 7.65 million in 2008 and a projected 8.9 million pounds in 2009.
 
"Over the past year, we have seen more and more people reaching out for help," Rieley said. "Tough choices are being made in homes throughout our community, and many times those decisions involve whether to buy food instead of paying utility bills, purchasing gasoline, securing prescription medicines or paying rent. The NALC Food Drive gives us all a chance to help provide resources for people who have come upon hard times. It offers the best opportunity we have all year to bring nonperishable goods into the Food Bank that we can use throughout the summer."
 
Rieley said that if everyone in Jacksonville donates one can of food during the May 9 event, Second Harvest will collect more food this year than it has in the last four years of the food drive combined.
 
"These donations will come at the perfect time," Rieley said.
 
Much of the increased demand stems from the economic challenges being faced by all Americans, starting with increased prices for gasoline, utilities and food. An unstable job market has also contributed. While those factors impact Americans of all means, lower-income families often times endure the greatest burden, which leads to a greater demand for resources from the Food Bank and the agencies its serves.
 
Although the NALC effort is a national event, much of the food donated in the Jacksonville area will directly benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank, which provides food to more than 520 community programs such as church pantries, soup kitchens, homeless shelters and senior citizen centers in 18 counties. The NALC Food Drive also provides much-needed food during the typically lean summer months when children are unable to receive the free or reduced-fee lunches that are available during the school year.
 
More than 285,000 pounds of food was donated to the Food Bank through the NALC event in 2008 - an increase of more than 81,000 pounds from 2007, and Rieley is hopeful for more than 300,000 pounds of donated products this year.
 
This will be the 17th annual "Stamp Out Hunger," which is the largest one-day food drive in the United States. Residents receive a postcard reminder in their mailbox during the week leading up to the event. They are asked to leave nonperishable food donations in bags or boxes by their mailboxes, which will be picked up by their Postal Service letter carriers as they deliver mail on their routes. Publix has donated bags that will be distributed to mailboxes throughout north Florida, but any bag or box can be used.
 
"While this drive is a lot of extra work for the carriers, they realize where the food is going - here in Jacksonville - and how much of an impact it makes," said Bob Henning, a local agent for the NALC. "All the motivation we need is to walk into the food bank this time of year, when kids are getting out of school, and see that the shelves stay full. When our carriers deliver the mail, they see hungry families on their routes. This drive is a way to help those families."
 
Rieley said the items most needed by the food bank include rice, pasta and canned meats - although he was quick to point out that all nonperishable donations are welcome.
 
"This is the easiest opportunity people throughout the First Coast have to reach out and help somebody in need," Rieley said. "All a person needs to do is leave food at their mailbox."

17th Annual NALC 'STAMP OUT HUNGER' Food Drive

WHAT:
The 2009 National Association of Letter Carriers 'Stamp Out Hunger' Food Drive, a national event that is the largest one-day food drive each year in the United States.

WHEN:
Saturday, May 9

WHO IT BENEFITS:
Food donated in Jacksonville and several outlying areas will be delivered to the Second Harvest Food Bank of North Florida, which provides food to more than 520 community programs such as church pantries, soup kitchens, homeless shelters and senior citizen centers in 18 counties. The Food Bank also provides much needed food during the typically lean summer months when children are unable to receive the free or reduced-fee lunches that are available during the school year.

HOW IT WORKS:
Residents are asked to leave nonperishable food items beside their mailboxes on the morning of Saturday, May 9. Postal carrier and rural carriers will collect the donations during their normal delivery routes.

A reminder card will be mailed to each home during the week leading up to the food drive, along with a plastic bag provided by Publix in which any food donations can be packaged. Any box or bag can be used to make a donation, however.

ITEMS NEEDED:
All nonperishable food items are important, but rice, pasta and canned meats are among the most needed items year round by the Second Harvest Food Bank.
 
About Second Harvest Food Bank of North Florida
Second Harvest Food Bank of North Florida is the oldest and largest program of Lutheran Social Services of Northeast Florida. LSS was founded in 1979 by area Lutherans and business leaders to fill gaps in services offered in the community for people in need. The Food Bank gathers food from local and national sources, shares these resources with 515 nonprofit organizations in 18 north Florida counties and helps thousands of people each year who are hungry or at risk of not having being able to provide food for themselves and their families. In addition to collecting and distributing food, the Food Bank serves children in after-school programs through its Kids Cafe and in summer camps through its Summer Lunch program. It also takes Mobile Pantries filled with Family Boxes of food to people living in neighborhoods with the greatest needs. Call 904.730.8234 for more information about any of these programs and services.