[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 53 (Wednesday, April 25, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E631]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            LETTER CARRIERS DELIVER HOPE TO FAMILIES IN NEED

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GERALD D. KLECZKA

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 25, 2001

  Mr. KLECZKA. Mr. Speaker, on Saturday, May 12, 2001, the largest one-
day food drive in the country will take place. Letter carriers from 
across the nation will join together and collect nonperishable food 
items from their customers and the supplies will be taken to food 
pantries for distribution. In Milwaukee, last year's food drive 
benefited the community by providing a total of over 376,000 pounds of 
donations for more than 100 local food operations.
  These contributions come at a critical time when donations to food 
pantries traditionally fall. During the summer months, demand for food 
to feed school-aged children typically peaks as access to school 
breakfast and lunch programs is restricted. Students suffer as their 
parents struggle to provide well-balanced meals. It is because of this 
that the National Letter Carriers Food Drive is so important to the 
health of our communities.
  This project has been made possible by the generous sponsorship and 
efforts of the National Association of Letter Carriers, U.S. Postal 
Service, AFL-CIO, United Way of Greater Milwaukee, Harley-Davidson 
Motor Company, Covenant Healthcare, and Hunger Task Force of Milwaukee.
  Mr. Speaker, I am here today to ask that my colleagues lend their 
support to the letter carriers' food drives in their own hometowns and 
districts. To my neighbors in Milwaukee and Waukesha counties, I ask 
that they look deep in their hearts and pick up a few extra 
nonperishable items while doing their weekly shopping. As all food 
collected remains in the community, these essential donations will 
benefit those that we work and live with.
  Together we can make a difference in the fight against food shortage. 
May 12, 2001, the National Letter Carriers' Food Drive provides a 
practical step in the march to stamp out hunger.

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