Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 11, 1995 TAG: 9505110020
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: W-13 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: KIMBERLY N. MARTIN
DATELINE: LENGTH: Short
It will be the third annual letter carriers' food drive in Salem, said John Hinton, a coordinator of Salem's campaign. The drive began nationally in several test cities four years ago.
Last year Salem mail carriers collected about 11 tons of canned goods in one day, Hinton said.
"We ask customers on the route to put in their mailbox or hang in plastic bags on their mailboxes" canned meats and canned vegetables or other nonperishable foods for the needy, Hinton said. "It's an easy way for us to help out."
All of those canned goods went to the Salem Food Pantry, which is housed in St. Paul's Episcopal Church. Those bundles of cans had the pantry bursting at its seams last year. The pantry wound up having to store the letter carriers' bounty in Sunday-school rooms for the summer.
This year the campaign couldn't come at a better time.
"Before food was contributed to us two or three times a week, but now our shelves are getting dried up," said Barbara Bell, co-director of the food pantry.
She blames the shortage on talks of the pantry's relocating. Board members had considered finding a joint location for the pantry and Salem's Clothes Closet.
But those plans have since been abandoned.
"We're still here, and we're not going anywhere," Bell said. "It wasn't going to be in the best interest of the Food Pantry" to move.
The pantry, which is open Monday thru Friday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., accepts canned goods and cash donations.
by CNB