On May 11, Delaware letter carriers will again help Stamp Out Hunger in order to provide food assistance to Delawareans who depend on the Food Bank of Delaware’s network of hunger-relief partners for support.
To help Stamp Out Hunger, simply leave a bag containing non-perishable foods, such as canned soup, canned fruits and vegetables, canned meats and cereals next to the mailbox prior to the time of regular mail delivery on Saturday, May 11. Food items should be in non-breakable containers, such as boxes and cans. Postal customers will also receive a special Stamp Out Hunger plastic bag in their mailbox a few days prior to the drive. Now in its 21st year, the Stamp Out Hunger effort is the nation’s largest single-day food drive.
Last year, letter carriers in Delaware collected more than 202,000 pounds of food for Delawareans struggling to put meals on the table. The 2012 amount was up 232 percent compared to what was collected in 2011.
“The annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive comes at a very critical time for us,” said Food Bank of Delaware CEO Patricia Beebe. “This annual food drive allows us to stock the shelves of our partner agencies just in time for the summer months. Last year Delawareans stepped up in a major way. The outpouring of support from the community was simply amazing. As letter carriers were returning to local post offices, we couldn’t fill our trucks fast enough with the volume of donations coming in. We hope to exceed last year’s total.”
Food Bank awards
On a related note, Food Bank of Delaweare recently honored individuals and organizations. Here is the commentary from the Food Bank:
Community Worker of the Year – Nancy Cueto: Nancy is dedicated to the mission of the organization. She plays a large role in ensuring that our programs are organized and that all paperwork is filed.
Group Volunteer of the Year – Capital One: To date this fiscal year, 292 Capital One volunteers have donated 931 hours of their time at the Newark warehouse. In 2012, the company (then ING DIRECT) spent its Orange Days of Caring by donating $20,000 to the Backpack Program and volunteering to create 500 school supply kits and more than 2,500 food bags for the program.
Board Member of the Year – Julie Miro Wenger: Julie Miro Wenger is Executive Director of the Delaware Food Industry Council.
Corporate Donor of the Year – Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware: Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Delaware stepped up to support the Food Bank’s Milford Branch expansion project. This year the organization committed $250,000 to cover more than half of the expenses to outfit the new kitchen with equipment.
Food Donor of the Year – Delaware National Guard: In 2008 the Delaware National Guard declared a “War on Hunger” here in the First State. The initiative was spearheaded by Major General Frank Vavala, and since its inception, the servicemen, women and their families have collected more than 20 tons of food for hungry Delawareans.
Advocate of the Year – John McMahon. Department of Labor Secretary John McMahon has played an important role in the success of The Culinary School. Since the school’s inception in 2002, the Department of Labor has been a major source of funding and student referrals. Over the past two fiscal years the Department of Labor has provided more than $152,000 in student funding.
Partner of the Year – Bayshore: The team at Bayshore is dependable. One call from the Food Bank is all it takes for them to assist with fulfilling our mission. In May 2012, Bayshore provided tractors, trailers, drivers and logistical support for the annual Stamp Out Hunger Letter Carriers food drive. Because of their help, the Food Bank was able to greatly reduce our expense for this annual food drive. Bayshore will step up again for the 2013 drive on Saturday, May 11.
Legislator of the Year – Rep. Ed Osienski: Ed Osienski has been supportive of the Food Bank long before becoming an elected official.
Donation for Delaware Hospice
With the loss of their good friend, Wayne Parker, employees at Bankers Life and Casualty Company wanted to do something special in his memory. Impressed with the care he and his wife received at the Delaware Hospice Center in Milford, they chose to donate funds to Delaware Hospice.
Bankers Life and Casualty Company’s Branch Sales Manager, Van LaFermine, presented a check for $1,500 to Delaware Hospice representatives, and said, “We pride ourselves on being a family here at Bankers, and we wanted to come together to show our support for Deb and to honor Wayne.”
Deb Parker remembered their brief stay at the Delaware Hospice Center. “I’ve never experienced such a warm, peaceful environment,” she said. “They couldn’t have provided better care than they did and that included the personal attention they gave me, as we faced a sudden, unexpected decline in his condition. I’m so grateful for this gift from our friends at Bankers, and I know Wayne would have been very pleased, as well.”
