Letter carriers to collect food May 9
On the second Saturday in May, letter carriers in more than 10,000 cities and towns will participate in the largest food drive in the nation. On that day, May 9, letter carriers on Pine Island and Matlacha will join forces with the Pine Island Food Pantry to “Stamp Out Hunger.”
Postal carriers, and Pine Island volunteers will collect non-perishable food items. Residents are encouraged to leave a sturdy bag of non-perishable foods, such as canned soup, canned vegetables, pasta, rice or cereal, next to their mailbox before 9 a.m. Saturday. The food will be sorted at the Food Pantry where it will be available for needy families.
Non-perishable foods may also be dropped off at Winn-Dixie, V.F.W., American Legion, Moose Lodge, Stonegate Bank, the Matlacha Post Office and the Pine Island Food Pantry, at 12175 Stringfellow Road, Bokeelia.
“This is a wonderful effort on behalf of our letter carriers,” Dave Grueser, president of the Pine Island Food Pantry, said. “Every year they do a great job for us and last year they collected more than 5,500 pounds of food for the Food Pantry.
“We are also looking for volunteers to help us at the hall and/or to pick up food at island mailboxes,” Grueser continued. “Anyone wishing to help out should call Peg and Roy Cruckshank at 239-282-0227.”
The food pantry is housed in the Life Center of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church on Stringfellow Road in Bokeelia. The pantry, an equal opportunity organization, serves residents of Pine Island and greater Matlacha.
The pantry is open Mondays and Thursdays from 8:30-10:30 a.m. and closed on holidays. Donations can be mailed to Pine Island Food Pantry, 12175 Stringfellow Road, Bokeelia, FL 33922. For inquiries, call 239-443-6561.