County residents restock food banks

Imagine 60 tons of food.

If you do you will have an idea in your head as to how much food was collected in Kitsap County Saturday as postal customer in the area donated food, hygiene items, paper products and cleaning supplies.

For the second year, local Kitsap County mail carriers had delivered plastic bags with the Food Drive logo and donation information to postal customers.

In the past mail carriers had just delivered postcards, which they did again this year. But the bags in most areas made a significant difference.

Kitsap Newspaper Group once again agreed to sponsor the printing of the bags. In addition, businesses around the county posted reminders on their reader boards.

“The Letter Carriers Food Drive is critical for our counties Food Banks,” explains David Foote, Executive Director, United Way of Kitsap County. “Kitsap County Food Banks have had a tough year. Often the food bank shelves were nearly empty because of the demands placed upon them in these tough economic times. Once again, the generosity of Kitsap County residents who so often give from their hearts have come through again to help those less fortunate. In addition, a huge “Thank You” goes to the Letter Carriers who participate and collect the food each year, it is their participation in addition to their regular duties that makes this work so well for everyone.”

Donations have been allocated to food banks in the areas where they were made. Here are results:

l Bainbridge Island: 12,800 pounds

l Bremerton: 35,000 pounds

l Port Orchard/South Kitsap: 50,813 pounds

l Poulsbo/North Kitsap: 16,100 pounds

l Silverdale/Central Kitsap: 5,300 pounds

“We are very pleased to be part of such a successful and meaningful effort,” said Harald Jones, Bremerton Postmaster. “The commitment of Letter Carriers in town and in the rural areas really went above-and-beyond to pick up all the food, in addition to their regular duties. It’s a team effort. “

The Letter Carriers Food Drive is sponsored locally by the National Association of Letter Carriers with the support of the National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association, United Way of Kitsap County and Kitsap Newspaper Group.

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