To the editor:

Every now and then you may have the urge to help out your community in some way, but you may not know how. Please let me suggest to you an easy way to do that. On Saturday, May 13, your postal letter carrier will be delivering mail and at the same time be picking up donated non-perishable food along his or her own route. This food will eventually be delivered to a local food bank or pantry that help out the less fortunate in your area.

So, what can you do? Simply look into your pantry and find non-perishable food, that is NOT outdated. Or, next time you are at your grocery store, please consider purchasing some extra canned goods. This food could eventually be placed on your porch or by your mailbox on the morning of Saturday, May 13, by 8 a.m., and your letter carrier will do the rest. It's that simple.

Over the course of the past 30 years, the U.S. Postal Service, in conjunction with The National Association of Letter Carriers, have worked in partnership in making sure that our country's food banks remain open to help feed the hungry. This "Stamp Out Hunger" program has accumulated well over 1.82 billion pounds of food throughout our 50 states including Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

And, for instance, in the Town of Bristol, the East Bay Food Pantry will be the beneficiary of your kindness. Talking to Jocelyn King, the pantry's Food Program's Manager, she mentioned that the following items are running low and would be much appreciated to receive. And they are: cereal/oatmeal, canned fruit, beans (black, garbanzo, kidney), crackers (Wheat Thins, Triscuits and other whole grain products), maxi pads & tampons, and deodorant, to name a few.

So you see, you can make a difference in people's lives in a positive way. Please consider helping out. Thank you and God bless.

Gerry Payette
1 Celia Ct., Bristol
U.S.P.S. Letter Carrier, Ret.
East Bay Food Pantry volunteer