A Record-Smashing Success!
Local Communities Respond Big To 2010 Postal Food Drive; Results Up 25%
Organizers of the 2010 Postal Food Drive have announced that a combined total of 36,030 pounds of food were collected by local letter carriers in Greater High Point on May 8th to benefit the food pantries at 14 local agencies. The combined total for 2010 is significantly above last year’s total of 28,983 pounds collected, and organizers consider the drive a resounding success with the highest total collection to date.
High Point University's Donations
Click here to watch short youtube videos from the PFD donation pick up from HPU!
Smith Leonard's Donations
Pennybyrn at Maryfield's Donations
Agencies receiving food included include Open Door Ministries, The House of Prayer, The Salvation Army, Carpenter House, (domestic violence shelter operated by Family Service of the Piedmont), Triad Health Project, COAT (Community Outreach in Archdale-Trinity), Helping Hands, West End Ministries, Caring Services, Southern Triad Mission, Piedmont Health Services and Sickle Cell Agency, Sincerely Agape, Hope Outreach Center, and the Macedonia Family Resource Center.
We’d like to thank everyone who donated food to the Postal Food Drive this year,” said Mike Thompson, a High Point letter carrier and one of the Food Drive organizers. “We know that every single item makes a difference to someone in need. Postal employees are proud to help the communities we live and work in.”
Bobby Smith, President of the United Way of Greater High Point, said, “The caring and generosity of this community have once again produced impressive results, and it is an inspiring thing to see. At this time of year, the shelves at many food pantries are empty, or nearly so, and the Postal Food Drive helps these agencies continue to feed hungry families in our area.”
This event, which began in 1991, is the largest one-day food drive in the United States. Letter carriers and rural carriers volunteer their services to pick up the food and deliver it to agencies serving needy families. Organizers also thanked the United Way of Greater High Point, which handles public promotion and media relations for the food drive, and Carolina Container, which donated 500 cardboard boxes used to collect and transport the food. A number of local businesses posted signage to promote the food drive. High Point University students donated 1,365 pounds of food. Bank of North Carolina, Smith Leonard CPA, and Kao Specialties Americas conducted company food drives; at Smith Leonard, the “Tax Department versus the Audit Department” competition raised over 600 food items. Pennybyrn at Maryfield residents amassed a large collection as well. Gift cards to purchase canned goods were donated by Harris-Teeter stores on Eastchester Drive and Skeet Club Road, Food Lion in Jamestown, and COSTCO. For more information, please contact the United Way of Greater High Point at 899-0876.
OTHER INFORMATION
Greater High Point Area’s Postal Food Drive Collections Over the Years
2003: 16,500 pounds
2004: 19,400 pounds
2005: 26,500 pounds
2006: 26,681 pounds
2007: 25,925 pounds
2008: 24,614 pounds
2009: 28,983 pounds
Please note: these numbers contain some estimated amounts and may not reflect food that is often collected in the days and weeks immediately following the drive.
How Can I Help?
- Plan to leave non-perishable cans or boxed items (see list of most needed items) at your mailbox on Saturday, May 8, 2010.
- Get involved with your family. Talk to your children about the food drive and what it means to help others. Take them shopping for the items you will donate and give them the chance to help buy items with their own money if they’d like.
- Get involved at your workplace. Help plan a food drive at work, or send information on the 2010 Postal Food Drive to your co-workers.
- Get involved at your place of worship. Help plan a food drive where you worship, and ask that announcements about the 2010 Postal Food Drive be made at services and in bulletins.
- Get involved in your community. The agencies that benefit from the Postal Food Drive are always looking for volunteers!
For information about the National Postal Food Drive, visit the national 'Stamp Out Hunger' website here.