NALC Food Drive produces record result, with more than 325,000 pounds of food donated by First Coast residents

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - For the second consecutive year, the First Coast community has responded in a big way and shattered the record for food collected in the annual "Stamp Out Hunger" Food Drive.
 
The Second Harvest Food Bank of North Florida received more than 325,000 pounds of donated food from a four-county area as part of the 17th Annual National Association of Letter Carriers Food Drive on Saturday, May 9. The record total is more than 12 percent higher than in 2008, with that number still rising as additional donations trickle in to the Jessie Street facility from various postal stations around Jacksonville.
 
In a year when the economy has forced many families to make tough choices between food and other daily necessities, "Stamp Out Hunger" will provide important resources for more than 520 nonprofit agencies in north Florida that are on the front lines in the ongoing fight against hunger. These Second Harvest member agencies are reporting a 32 percent increase in demand over the past year. Nationally, one in eight people are experiencing food insecurity - with half of those being children.
 
Those numbers give an illustration why this year's NALC event is so important, Second Harvest President and CEO Wayne Rieley said.
 
"This was the most successful food drive in our community's history, and that is a tribute to the wonderful citizens who live and work here," Rieley said. "These donations come as our agencies face unprecedented demand from people who are hurting and in need of help. This food will be put to good use and quickly."
 
This year's NALC food drive produced an increase of more than 15,000 pounds from what was collected in 2008. That "Stamp Out Hunger" event generated 288,973 pounds - which obliterated the previous high by more than 40 percent. All of this year's donations came from Duval, Clay, Baker and Nassau counties.
 
"The heroes in this process are the donors," Rieley said. "But the letter carriers and rural carriers are the real glue that pulls the operation together. Their dedication is much appreciated. We can't thank all postal employees, sponsors, donors and volunteers enough for their generosity. This food drive will give us an opportunity to meet needs in so many different areas of our community."
 
Second Harvest serves an 18-county area which provides food to 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.
 
The challenge now, Rieley said, is for the Second Harvest staff to effectively sort food that has been collected in order to prepare it for distribution. He said the Food Bank would welcome any and all volunteers.
 
"We need all the help we can get right now," Rieley said. "Our warehouse is full, which is a wonderful problem to have. Our goal is to sort and move this food as quickly as we possibly can."

Interested volunteers should contact Rev. Larry Riley, volunteer coordinator at the Second Harvest Food Bank, at 904.353.3663 (ext. 223) or e-mail lriley@wenourishhope.org.
 
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 520 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 and sends food home with schoolchildren for weekends and school breaks through the BackPack Program. Call 904.730.8234 for more information about any of these programs and services.