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By Bill Lilley
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 02:34 p.m. EDT, May 06, 2009
Greg Falstick smiles as he looks at the three coolers full of food sitting at the North Hill branch post office.
''It's a great start,'' said Falstick, a 15-year letter carrier, ''but it's only a start.''
Falstick is optimistic that the 133,000 addresses the 10 branches of the Akron post office serves will be able to break last year's record haul by collecting more than 50,000 pounds of food Saturday in the 17th annual Stamp Out Hunger, the nation's largest single-day food drive.
The Akron edition of this national drive organized by the National Association of Letter Carriers collected 47,000 pounds of food for the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. That represented a 4,000-pound increase from 2007. Nationally, a record 73.1 million pounds were collected last year.
Falstick, who is in his second year as coordinator of the event for the Akron branches, believes increased awareness will make this drive the biggest. He said a postcard campaign sponsored by the Campbell Soup Co. and increased national media exposure helped by television and national magazine ads featuring Courtney Cox, David Arquette and the Harlem Globetrotters will help him to realize his goal.
''Another big factor is the weather,'' Falstick said. ''Last year, we had a great day. I believe that when the weather is nice, people are more inclined to go outside and get food to donate. There is just a chance of showers Saturday, so that shouldn't be enough to deter anybody.''
Falstick said the need in the community is greater in 2008.
''Last year was when the economy just started to spin down,'' he said. ''Now, I think people see the increased need and I hope they will respond like they always have during tough times.''
Dan Flowers, president and CEO of the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, said recent figures show there are 14,000 more people unemployed in the Akron area than at this time last year.
''The need for food is even greater this year than last year,'' Flowers said. ''If just one in 10 gives one can of food, we can provide about 10,000 meals.
''Never underestimate the difference giving one can of food can make.''
Flowers said his agency appreciates the effort the letter carriers put forth.
''The U.S. Postal Service is very unique in that it can touch every single person's house in the country in a single day.
''That's a powerful resource. And we're hoping for powerful results,'' he said. ''We need that because there is a tremendous sense of urgency this year.''
Everybody can donate.
''It never ceases to amaze me that the people who have the least typically give the most,'' said retired letter carrier Don Bingham, who is volunteering for his 17th Stamp Out Hunger drive.
Participating is easy.
''Just put whatever you want to donate in a bag, a box or by itself by your mailbox Saturday morning,'' Falstick said. ''A letter carrier or volunteer will pick it up.''
The food bank lists its ''Super Six'' request list — canned soup, canned beef stew, canned vegetables, canned tuna fish, boxed cereal and jars of peanut butter — as the most desirable items.
The items will be taken back to each of the Akron branches and sorted. The foods will be loaded onto trailers and taken by U.S. Postal Service transportation drivers to the food bank Sunday morning.
Food bank volunteers and staffers will donate a portion of their Mother's Day to receive the food. The food then will be sorted over the next couple of weeks and put into the community.
''Being part of the Stamp Out Hunger food drive gives all of the letter carriers a great feeling,'' Falstick said. ''Giving back to the community is a big part of being a letter carrier because we are a big part of the communities that we serve.''
Bill Lilley can be reached at 330-996-3811 or blilley@thebeaconjournal.com.
Greg Falstick smiles as he looks at the three coolers full of food sitting at the North Hill branch post office.
''It's a great start,'' said Falstick, a 15-year letter carrier, ''but it's only a start.''
Falstick is optimistic that the 133,000 addresses the 10 branches of the Akron post office serves will be able to break last year's record haul by collecting more than 50,000 pounds of food Saturday in the 17th annual Stamp Out Hunger, the nation's largest single-day food drive.
The Akron edition of this national drive organized by the National Association of Letter Carriers collected 47,000 pounds of food for the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. That represented a 4,000-pound increase from 2007. Nationally, a record 73.1 million pounds were collected last year.
Falstick, who is in his second year as coordinator of the event for the Akron branches, believes increased awareness will make this drive the biggest. He said a postcard campaign sponsored by the Campbell Soup Co. and increased national media exposure helped by television and national magazine ads featuring Courtney Cox, David Arquette and the Harlem Globetrotters will help him to realize his goal.
''Another big factor is the weather,'' Falstick said. ''Last year, we had a great day. I believe that when the weather is nice, people are more inclined to go outside and get food to donate. There is just a chance of showers Saturday, so that shouldn't be enough to deter anybody.''
Falstick said the need in the community is greater in 2008.
''Last year was when the economy just started to spin down,'' he said. ''Now, I think people see the increased need and I hope they will respond like they always have during tough times.''
Dan Flowers, president and CEO of the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, said recent figures show there are 14,000 more people unemployed in the Akron area than at this time last year.
''The need for food is even greater this year than last year,'' Flowers said. ''If just one in 10 gives one can of food, we can provide about 10,000 meals.
''Never underestimate the difference giving one can of food can make.''
Flowers said his agency appreciates the effort the letter carriers put forth.
''The U.S. Postal Service is very unique in that it can touch every single person's house in the country in a single day.
''That's a powerful resource. And we're hoping for powerful results,'' he said. ''We need that because there is a tremendous sense of urgency this year.''
Everybody can donate.
''It never ceases to amaze me that the people who have the least typically give the most,'' said retired letter carrier Don Bingham, who is volunteering for his 17th Stamp Out Hunger drive.
Participating is easy.
''Just put whatever you want to donate in a bag, a box or by itself by your mailbox Saturday morning,'' Falstick said. ''A letter carrier or volunteer will pick it up.''
The food bank lists its ''Super Six'' request list — canned soup, canned beef stew, canned vegetables, canned tuna fish, boxed cereal and jars of peanut butter — as the most desirable items.
The items will be taken back to each of the Akron branches and sorted. The foods will be loaded onto trailers and taken by U.S. Postal Service transportation drivers to the food bank Sunday morning.
Food bank volunteers and staffers will donate a portion of their Mother's Day to receive the food. The food then will be sorted over the next couple of weeks and put into the community.
''Being part of the Stamp Out Hunger food drive gives all of the letter carriers a great feeling,'' Falstick said. ''Giving back to the community is a big part of being a letter carrier because we are a big part of the communities that we serve.''
Bill Lilley can be reached at 330-996-3811 or blilley@thebeaconjournal.com.
Comments
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Akron, OH
Posted 03:07 PM, 05/06/2009
Great idea, but I'd love to see the worker's comp claims after the fact! :)
Akron, OH
Posted 04:47 PM, 05/06/2009
I'd hate to be a mail carrier that day!
Akron, Oh
Posted 09:39 AM, 05/07/2009
I know from past work with this endeavor that it is a great service the postal workers perform, bringing in thousands of meals. It makes me sad, but not surprised in NEO, that the first two responses on this forum are whining and negative.
As someone whose seen this can drive in action, I know the letter carriers are earth angels, not people seeking workers comp or anything. Just being good to their fellow man...lets all try it even for an hour.
I like to donate peanut butter or canned veggies, which can get heavy and our letter carrier has been prepared each year, to take on that extra burden to help out.
Posted 11:25 AM, 05/07/2009
Does anyone know if this only applies to Akron residents? I live in Stow but would love to help.
Posted 10:04 AM, 05/08/2009
The food collected Saturday in Cuyahoga Falls, Munroe Falls and Stow goes to Haven of Rest. That donation helps them tremendously!
