Norwood, Westwood pantries hold annual 'Letter Carriers Food Drive'
The Norwood and Westwood food pantries will join forces May 12 for the 20th annual “Letter Carriers Food Drive.” During the drive last year, the two organizations collected more than 14,000 pounds of food to help families in both towns, said Jack Curran, food drive coordinator.
Residents interested in participating should leave one or more bags of food by their mailbox on May 12 marked “Letter Carriers Food Drive.” The food will then be picked up as mail carriers go about their regular delivery routes. Bags are then delivered to a central location for sorting and sent to the two pantries.
“All types of non-perishable food from peanut butter and jelly to coffee and fruit and vegetable juices are welcome,” Bill Discepolo, stock and rotation manager at the Norwood pantry said in a statement.
Discepolo added the pantries need canned fruit, tuna, canned meat, baked beans, canned pasta, and boxed meals in particular. The only requirement for donations is that all cans and boxes must be new and in good condition.
Want to help more? The pantry is looking for volunteers to help sort through the food May 13 at the Parish House of First Baptist Church, 71 Bond St. Volunteers are needed from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. to sort, pack, and deliver the food to storage buildings.
According to a news release about the drive, Norwood and Westwood are just two of 10,000 cities nationwide taking part in this year’s drive which was started in 1992.
“We are proud to be part of this powerful effort to help our neighbors in need,” Curran said. “While the economy has recently taken an upward turn, a lot of people are still having trouble making ends meet.”
Taeger said for the Norwood pantry, the drive is the single most important day all year.
“We depend on it to get through the lean summer months when donations always dip because people are so busy or away on vacation,” she said.
Natalie Feulner can be reached at natalie.feulner@gmail.com.
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