Austin Daily Herald

The National Association of Letters Carriers will sponsor a food collection Saturday, May 11.

Working in conjunction with the U.S. Postal Service, NALC will collect non-perishable food items, when they make their regular mail deliveries.

All customers have to do is leave the non-perishable food items near their mailboxes.

The food will be turned over to the Salvation Army Austin Corps emergency food shelf.

This is the sixth year for the nationwide effort by NALC and the U.S. Postal Service. The event has grown more successful each year.

Both city and rural customers can be involved in the effort to surpass the 2001 total of collecting 9,000 pounds of food items and raise 10,000 pounds this year.

Collection boxes have also been set up in the U.S. Post Office in Austin, where non-perishable food items may be left until May 11.

According to Daniel M. Heins, postmaster, and Ed Holmen, letter carrier, organizers of the local effort, the food drive comes at an "excellent time of the year."

In a joint statement, the pair observed, "This collection comes at an excellent time of the year for the food shelf. We are heading into the summer months, which usually place greater demands on the food shelf and this is an excellent way to restock items and prepare for this season."

The statement concluded, "Thank you to the citizens of Austin and the surrounding area for your generous support in the past and we are looking forward to another outstanding show of support for those who need our help in the community. Also, thank you

to the staff of the Salvation Army for their help and support in this effort."

For more information about the food drive, call Heins at 433-7321.