You Can Help “Stamp Out Hunger” In Pocahontas
Marlinton, WV – After an especially tough winter, many families in Pocahontas may have a lot less food left in their cabinets. On Saturday, May 8th, you can help alleviate hunger in Pocahontas, and it’s as simple as leaving a box of food beside your mail box or dropping it off at your local post office.
Once again Pocahontas County post offices and letter carriers will participate in the Stamp Out Hunger campaign. This is the 18th year for the national Stamp Out Hunger food drive sponsored by the USPS, Campbell Soup Company and Feed America. Marlinton Postmaster Donna Cook says they’ve collected an impressive amount of food over the years, and they hope to top the one billion pound mark this year.
Last year, Pocahontas post offices and letter carriers collected just over 1800 pounds of food. Their goal is to collect at least 2000 pounds this year. Cook says there’s a great need for this food in Pocahontas.
The food drive is for non-perishable items such as cereal, rice, and any kind of canned goods. All donations will go to the Pocahontas Cooperative Ministries Food Pantry for distribution to those in need. Food can be left in a box or bag by your mailbox on Saturday, May 8th, or you can drop it off at your local post office.
Several business around the county will also have collection boxes for the drive:
Fas Chek, Foodland, Family Dollar, Dollar General (stores in Marlinton and Green Bank), Marlinton Elementary School, Fishers Garage, Don Loveless, Pocahontas Pharmacy and in the cafeteria at Pocahontas Memorial Hospital.
“I’d just like to thank the whole community, they’ve been wonderful over the years” says Cook, “and I’m sure everyone appreciates it as much as I do.”
In addition to being a sponsor for the food drive, Campbell Soup company will also donate one can of soup to Feeding America for each Facebook fan that joins the fight against hunger at www.facebook.com/StampOutHunger. They’ve pledged to contribute up to one million cans.