Postal Workers Deliver Compassion

North Reading letter carriers will join in the largest one-day nationwide food drive on Saturday, May 14, that will help fill thousands of food pantries.

Gina Neve, acting supervisor of the , said that “people are very responsive even though things are tough.”

Neve said of the 12 driving routes in town, all 12 trucks fill up to three-quarters with donations, equaling approximately 3 tons of food.

The donations are taken to Town Hall that day where they are separated by category.

“Volunteers package and separate the non-perishable items, which are then distributed to food pantries based on need,” said Neve.

Items most in need include canned soup, canned vegetables, pasta, rice and cereal, in addition to toiletries and paper goods. 

North Reading has been participating in this event for 15 years. Last year, more than 77 million pounds of food was raised nationwide. This year, the U.S. Postal Service hopes to raise even more as the food banks are in dire demand because of the difficult economy.

“It’s phenomenal,” said Neve. “We’ve been very successful in this town with the food drive. People are very receptive here,” she said.

Neve said the best way to donate your perishables is to leave them in a plastic bag next to your mailbox for the letter carrier to pick-up.