Letter carriers' food drive set for May 12

On May 12, letter carriers in Ada will “Stamp Out Hunger” by collecting canned food donations from households on their route. In Ada, donations benefit Abba’s Table and Ada Youth Shelter in collaboration with the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma.

To help “Stamp Out Hunger,” residents can fill the plastic donation bag they receive in their mailbox the week of May 7, or any plastic bag, with canned food donations and place it by their mailbox May 12 before their letter carrier arrives – their letter carrier will do the rest. The goal is to collect enough food to provide 2 million meals for Oklahomans living with hunger.

“If you’ve seen one hungry child you’ve seen one too many,” said Steve Riggs, statewide chair of the Letter Carriers’ Food Drive. “This food drive is important because it stocks the shelves of our pantries across central and western Oklahoma, like Abba’s Table and Ada Youth Shelter.”

Most-needed items include canned meats, meat-based soups, canned fruits, canned vegetables, peanut butter and rice and beans. Nonperishable food donations can also be dropped off at participating post offices. Monetary donations can also be made online at feedinghope.org or by calling (405) 600-3136. Every dollar donated will provide four meals for Oklahomans with inconsistent access to healthy food.

“The Letter Carriers’ Food Drive is more important than ever,” said Katie Fitzgerald, chief executive officer of the Regional Food Bank. “During the summer, utility bills skyrocket and children, who usually receive meals at school, may not have enough to eat. We are asking the community to help us by donating canned food items through the Letter Carriers’ Food Drive. We wouldn’t be able to help our neighbors living with hunger without your support.”

As the demand for food assistance continues to rise, the Regional Food Bank depends upon the generosity of the community to support its mission of “Fighting Hunger … Feeding Hope.” 

The following 194 cities in central and western Oklahoma are participating in the Letter Carriers’ Food Drive: Ada, Aline, Allen, Altus, Alva, Amber, Ames, Anadarko, Apache, Arapaho, Arcadia, Ardmore, Asher, Atoka, Atwood, Balko, Beaver, Bennington, Bethany, Bethel Acres, Binger, Bison, Blackwell, Blanchard, Bokchito, Boley, Braman, Buffalo, Bulter, Burns Flat, Cache, Caddo, Calera, Calumet, Calvin, Canute, Carnegie, Carney, Carrier, Cashion, Cement, Central High, Chandler, Chattanooga, Cherokee, Cheyenne, Chickasha, Choctaw, Cleveland, Clinton, Colbert, Comanche, Cordell, Crawford, Crescent, Cushing, Custer City, Cyril, Davis, Dill City, Duke, Duncan, Durant, Durham, Edmond, El Reno, Elgin, Elk City, Enid, Erick, Fletcher, Forgan, Fort Sill, Fort Supply, Foss, Frederick, Gate, Geronimo, Glencoe, Goltry, Goodwell, Gould, Gracemont, Grandfield, Granite, Guthrie, Guymon, Harrah, Healdton, Helena, Hennessey, Hinton, Hobart, Holdenville, Hollis, Hooker, Indiahoma, Jet, Jones, Kingfisher, Kingston, Konawa, Laverne, Leedey, Lexington, Lindsay, Lone Grove, Loyal, Luther, Madill, Mangum, Mannsville, Marietta, Marlow, Maud, May, Maysville, McLoud, Mead, Medford, Meeker, Midwest City, Milburn, Minco, Mooreland, Mulhall, Mustang, Nardin, Nash, Newalla, Newcastle, Newkirk, Ninnekah, Noble, Norman, Oakland, Okarche, Okeene, Okemah, Oklahoma City, Paden, Pauls Valley, Pawnee, Perkins, Piedmont, Pink, Ponca City, Prague, Purcell, Reydon, Ringling, Rush Springs, Sayre, Seiling, Seminole, Shartel, Shattuck, Shawnee, Slaughterville, Snyder, Sparks, Spencer, Springer, Stillwater, Stratford, Stroud, Sulphur, Sweetwater, Taloga, Tecumseh, Temple, Thomas, Tishomingo, Tonkawa, Tuttle, Union City, Vici, The Village, Walters, Washington, Watonga, Waukomis, Waurika, Weatherford, Weleetka, Wellston, Wetumka, Wewoka, Wilson, Woodward, Wright City, Wynnewood, Yale and Yukon.

Since 1993, the Letter Carriers’ Food Drive has raised more than 9.7 million pounds of food for residents in central and western Oklahoma.

For more information about the Letter Carriers’ Food Drive, ask your letter carrier, contact your local post office or contact Kallie Mikles at kmikles@regionalfoodbank.org or (405) 600-3193.

The food drive is presented by APMEX.com and the Cresap Family Foundation. The drive is also sponsored by AFL-CIO, Allen Lund Company, American Fidelity Foundation, Ascent Resources, Bank of Oklahoma, Chesapeake Energy, Commerce Bank, Devon Energy, JAKE FM, KOMA, The Journal Record, Lamar Outdoor, La Zeta, Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores, Magic 104.1 KMGL, Morning Star Storage, National Association of Letter Carriers, National Association of Rural Letter Carriers, News 9, OGE Energy Corp., Oklahoma City Firefighters Association Local 157, The Oklahoman, OU Medicine, Riverwind Casino, Tapstone Energy, Tyler Outdoor, United States Postal Service, United Way of Central Oklahoma and Valpak.