Letter carriers set record for food drive

Posted June 13, 2017 11:00 pm

Submitted by The Salvation Army

Letter carriers from the National Association of Letter Carriers 825 Branch did double-duty May 13, delivering letters and packages, as well as a large dose of hope for the community.

The union participated in "Stamp Out Hunger," its annual food drive, and set an all-time record for the amount of food collected. Approximately 75 letter carriers collected 48,729 pounds of food that Saturday - 30,847 pounds in St. Charles and 17,882 pounds in Geneva. Last year, the drive collected approximately 13,000 lbs. of food in both communities combined.

Jayden Christensen, union steward for the 825 Branch, commented, "We are just so proud that our towns are so giving. It's easy for us to pick the donations up, but it's really our customers' giving that make the food drive a success."

Christensen and her colleagues selected two local food pantries to receive the donations from the food drive: The Salvation Army and St. Peter's Food Pantry. Both pantries serve local residents in need as least once a month and are grateful for the donations received on Saturday.

"The donations from this food drive help to keep our pantry stocked through the summer months," said Lt. Betsy Clark of The Salvation Army. "The generosity and timing of this food drive allow us to continue to provide essential services to families in the Tri-Cities. We are beyond thankful for the commitment of our community and the letter carriers to provide for hungry people."

Those in need of help with food should contact local pantries to receive help: The Salvation Army, (630) 377-2769 or St. Peter's Food Pantry, (630) 232-0124.

The Salvation Army has served the Tri-City community for over 65 years of dedicated service. The Tri-City Corps Joe K. Anderson Community Center, 1710 S. Seventh Ave. in St. Charles, provides basic human needs such as food, rent and utility assistance, as well as case management, health education, youth programming, senior meals and spiritual assistance to those in need. It is part of The Salvation Army Metropolitan Division. Visit salarmychicago.org/stcharles/.

Jayden Christensen, left, and other volunteers help unload food donations from the "Stamp Out Hunger" food drive, organized by local letter carriers. Courtesy of The Salvation Army

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