
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 10, 1995                   TAG: 9505100042
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: LESLIE TAYLOR STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

LETTER CARRIERS TO HOLD 2ND FOOD DRIVE

Last year, Roanoke-area members of the National Association of Letter Carriers conducted their first food drive for the needy, setting aside one day to collect food donations while delivering mail.

It was an experiment, said John Deatherage, president of the association branch, which covers a six-locality area, including Roanoke and Roanoke County. Members had no idea what kind of response the drive would draw. Or whether their expectations were unreasonable.

They collected 60 tons of food for the Southwestern Virginia Second Harvest FoodBank and its 425 member agencies.

This Saturday, the carriers are determined to top that. They, as well as their colleagues throughout Southwest Virginia and across the country, will conduct drives to benefit food banks, soup kitchens and homeless shelters.

"We've committed ourselves to it, no matter how long it takes to get it done," Deatherage said. "We'll get on the clock Saturday morning and deliver mail in conjunction with picking up food."

Don Cantrell, who is coordinating the Radford post office's drive, said, "We feel it has to be done, needs to be done. Since the Postal Service is allowing it, we'll drive it as hard and fast as we can."

Postal customers are asked to leave nonperishable food - canned or boxed - at their mailboxes. The food will be collected during regular mail deliveries.

Items needed include canned meats, fruits and vegetables, dry cereal, dry milk and pasta.

Pamela Irvine, director of the Southwest Virginia food bank, said the demand for food donations is increasing and issued a public challenge Tuesday.

"A lot of times, people say they can't contribute like they want to," she said. "But I would challenge them to put out at least one can of food by the mailbox on Saturday to help us feed the hungry of Southwest Virginia."

by CNB