Letter carriers to conduct 25th annual food drive

May 4, 2017 | G. Michael Dobbs
news@thereminder.com



INDIAN ORCHARD – A non-perishable food item placed in your mailbox on May 13 will mean a lot to a person or family struggling with food insecurity.

That day the National Association of Letter Carriers in conjunction with the U.S. Postal service will be sponsoring its 25th food drive. Locally, Western Massachusetts Branch 46 of the union will be participating.  

For the Community Survival Center, donations made during the drive are essential.

“This is our biggest event,” Mary Cassidy, executive director of the center told Reminder Publications. “Generally it brings in between 15,000 and 20,000 pounds of food.”

One of the programs of the center is an emergency food pantry.  Cassidy said registered participants could visit the pantry up to six times a year. The average emergency package of food is between 10 and 12 pounds of food for each person in the household, she explained.

The center serves people in Ludlow, Hampden and Wilbraham, as well as the Indian Orchard, Pine Point and Sixteen Acres neighborhoods of Springfield.

In addition to the emergency food pantry, the center also operates a monthly program that provides supplemental food for low-income people aged 65 and over who live in Hampden County.

Cassidy said the center is hoping to receive donations of protein items such as Spam, tuna and other canned meats as well as chunky soups and stews. Breakfast items such as pancake mix, syrup and cereal are also welcomed.

Since letter carriers pick up the food donations as they deliver the mail, Cassidy said donations such as mac and cheese and ramen noodle soups help keep their load more manageable.

“The donations will really make a difference for your neighbors in our communities,” she said.

To help fund its programs, the Community Survival Center operates a thrift shop at its location at 240 Main St. Its Clothing and Household Goods program allows the purchase of items by the bag, at $4 per bag. Items include household essentials like dishes, sheets, blankets, pots and pans, as well as clothing.

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