United Way Touts Success Of 'Stamp Out Hunger' Program
Posted
Staff Report-
The 19th annual “Stamp Out Hunger” Food Drive took place Saturday in Kosciusko County as residents were asked to join the entire nation and “hang a bag of food, for the hungry”. Local letter carriers, in conjunction with United Way of Kosciusko County, Campbell’s Soup Company and Kosciusko residents participated in the annual “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive. This is the largest single-day, national food drive. The event encouraged all community members to participate and donate food in order to make a difference in hungry people’s lives. Post offices in Warsaw, Winona Lake, Claypool, Silver Lake and Milford were able to collect 9,300 pounds of food during this one-day event. Last year, 11,200 pounds of food items were collected and distributed to local emergency pantries to replenish depleted supplies in Kosciusko County. The community’s largest donation year was in 2005 when 14,500 pounds were collected. Residents placed bags of non-perishable food items such as canned goods, cereal and rice into bags and attached it to their mailboxes. The carriers did the rest. The food was taken to the post office and was divided between five countywide emergency food providers in Kosciusko County. The local food pantries are Salvation Army, Combined Community Services, Mary & Jerry’s Helping Hands, Our Father’s House and Heartline Pregnancy Center. Baby food and diapers collected went to Heartline Pregnancy Center for children in need. The food-drive committee thanks Kosciusko County residents for joining in with others across the nation in this event. According to the committee, it might not seem like a lot, but cans of food do make a difference. The “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive was a success for Kosciusko County.
