BP MARKOWITZ, U.S POSTAL SERVICE, MISS BROOKLYN AND P.S. 59 STUDENTS KICK OFF STAMP OUT HUNGER FOOD DRIVE
Nation's Largest Single-Day Food Drive Collected More than 70 Million Pounds of Food Donations Last Year
On Thursday, May 3, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz joined the U.S. Postal Service, Brooklyn Letter Carriers, Miss Brooklyn 2012 Maria DeSantis, students from P.S. 59 William Floyd School and the Food Bank for New York City to announce the annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive in Brooklyn. From May 7th to May 12th, Brooklynites can drop off donations at their local post office. The food will be picked up by the Food Bank for New York City and distributed to emergency food programs and needy families.
"In America's most progressive city in the world's wealthiest nation, there is no reason why anyone should not be getting enough healthy, nourishing food," said BP Markowitz. "What's more disturbing is that the demand from hungry families is growing. In these tough economic times, even those who can afford food are just a paycheck away from hunger. It's time we stamped out hunger once and for all. Let's wrap it up, box it, and ship it special delivery with no return address to the dead letter office."
Stamp Out Hunger across America is providing assistance to the millions of Americans who are struggling to put food on their tables every day. Now in its 20th year, the Stamp Out Hunger effort is the nation's largest single-day food drive. It will be held on Saturday, May 12. In 2011, drive organizers across the country collected more than 70 million pounds of total food donations for the eighth consecutive year.
Despite the generosity of millions of Americans who have supported the letter carriers' food drive in previous years, the need for food assistance still exists for many families. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's annual study measuring food security in the United States, nearly 49 million Americans, including more than 16 million children, are struggling with hunger.
In photo: Students from P.S. 59 William Floyd School surrounded by (left to right) Stephen Longo, letter carrier, USPS Cadman Plaza Station; Debbie Kellogg, director, Business Partnerships, Food Bank for New York City; Miss Brooklyn 2012, Maria DeSantis; Edward F. Roggenkamp, postmaster, Brooklyn, NY; Roxanne Hosein, marketing manager, USPS Triboro District; BP Markowitz; Karen Pierre-Charles, P.S. 59; Andrea Burrows, customer relations coordinator, USPS; Angelo Mangano, president, Branch 41 NALC, Brooklyn, NY
Photo by Kathryn Kirk
