19th Annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive At Local Post Offices Saturday, May 14th

Marlinton, WV – On May the 14th, letter carriers in more than 10,000 cities and towns across America will deliver much more than mail when they walk and drive their postal routes. They will also collect the goodness and compassion of their postal patrons participating in the 19th annual national food drive to Stamp Out Hunger; the largest one day food drive in the nation.

Letter Carriers will collect non-perishable food donations left at mail boxes and in post offices for delivery to local community food banks, pantries and shelters. In the past 18 years this drive has collected over 1 billion pounds of food to support local food banks and pantries. Last year alone over 77 million pounds were collected.

Highland, Bath and Pocahontas County mail carriers will be picking up donations on Friday and Saturday. Pam Cox, Postmaster in Hot Springs, says that all donated food will be distributed to food banks and pantries throughout the area. Cox says she hopes to receive “Food Donation” bags to give to patrons. But she says if those don’t arrive in time, patrons can also use their used grocery bags. She says that last year carriers returned to the Post Office with more material than they left with.

Donna Cooke, Marlinton Postmaster, says that all donations come to the Marlinton Branch and go to the Pocahontas County Cooperative Parish Food Pantry. Last year Pocahontas Post Offices collected 1,864 pounds. She says this year she hopes to receive at least 2,000 pounds. In Pocahontas County, donation boxes are at Foodland, Family Dollar, Dollar General, and Fas-check as well as in all the counties’ post offices.

Cox and Cooke both recognize that things are tough for everyone right now, but they say that the area’s residents are very generous and they expect this year’s drive to be successful.

To make a donation of non perishable food, put your cans or boxes into a plastic bag and hang it on your mail box, or on the ground beside your box. Or you can always drop it by your local post office. The Post Office sincerely appreciates your support.