HONOLULU — More than 240,000 mail carriers will lead the Postal Service’s effort to “Stamp Out Hunger” by collecting food donations throughout Hawaii and in cities and towns across the country on Saturday, May 8 in the 18th annual National Association of Letter Carriers Food Drive.

The drive is the nation’s largest one-day effort to combat hunger and is held to support the mission of community food banks such as the Hawaii Foodbank. Last year, about 1,000 of Hawaii’s mail carriers collected more than 580,000 pounds of food items, led by the 54,000 pounds collected by the Wahiawa Post Office and its Mililani Station carriers. More than 73 million pounds were collected nationwide last year; a total of more than 982 million pounds of food has been collected during the campaign’s first 17 years.

Residents are urged to place non-perishable food items next to their mailbox for pickup on May 8 before their usual mail pickup time. The mail carriers will then transport the donations back to their Post Offices where postal employees and their families will sort the food and deliver it to their nearest community food banks. Post Offices without residential delivery will be collecting items during the week leading up to May 8.

“The NALC Food Drive is a big help because it always results in a lot of canned protein items, which are our ‘Most Wanted’ items.” said Mike Kajiwara, Hawaii Foodbank Director of Product Donations. Kajiwara listed the following as the most desired food donations: Canned meats or tuna, canned meals, canned soups, canned fruits and vegetables, and canned beans.

“Our goal is to top last year's totals,” said Adele Yoshikawa, Pearl City Carrier and NALC Food Drive Chairperson. “But, with the weak economy it may be difficult. We know some people who have donated food in the past may now be struggling themselves and unable to give. To make up for that shortfall, we’d like to ask those who are more secure to give a little more.”

According to the Foodbank, 2009 dealt many Hawaii residents financial hardships, causing a substantial increase in the number of people who are now relying on Foodbank member agencies for their daily meals. A recent study indicated that more than 183,000 people in Hawaii are receiving emergency food assistance through the Hawaii Foodbank network.

“This drive is a wonderful opportunity for us to demonstrate to our communities that our Postal Service does more than deliver the mail. It shows that we can make a positive difference and we truly care about helping others.” said Yoshikawa

Note to media: Food Drive Spokesperson Adele Yoshikawa will be available for interviews at the Pearl City Post Office on the day of the Food Drive. Arrangements can also be made for media to follow her as she travels her route meeting customers and picking up donated food items. On-route food pickups will occur between noon and 2 p.m.; after 2 p.m. the focus will be on unloading and sorting donated food items from returning postal vehicles at the Pearl City Post Office. Contact Duke Gonzales at 342-8279 to arrange interviews.

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A self-supporting government enterprise, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation, 150 million residences, businesses and Post Office Boxes. The Postal Service receives no direct support from taxpayers. With 36,000 retail locations and the most frequently visited website in the federal government, the Postal Service relies on the sale of postage, products and services to pay for operating expenses. Named the Most Trusted Government Agency five consecutive years and the sixth Most Trusted Business in the nation by the Ponemon Institute, the Postal Service has annual revenue of more than $68 billion and delivers nearly half the world’s mail. If it were a private sector company, the U.S. Postal Service would rank 28th in the 2009 Fortune 500.