[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 80 (Monday, June 17, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S5629]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   COMMENDATION OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LETTER CARRIERS' 10TH 
                 ANNUAL ``STAMP OUT HUNGER'' FOOD DRIVE

  Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, I rise with pleasure today to commend the 
National Association of Letter Carriers, NALC for their unprecedented 
commitment to answering the call of reducing hunger in the United 
States. Over 30 million Americans go hungry everyday. In the summer 
months, the problem is particularly acute because the demand for 
emergency food is high and donations are at their lowest yearly point. 
However, on May 11, almost 62.7 million pounds of food was collected in 
the 10th Annual ``Stamp Out Hunger'' food drive as a result of the 
dedication of NALC members.
  Through a combined effort by the Priority Mail division of the U.S. 
Postal Service and the Campbell Soup Company, postcards promoting the 
food drive were delivered to over 100 million postal customers in all 
50 States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico. Then, on 
May 11, in addition to their daily postal duties, letter carriers 
volunteered to pick up donations, sort through them, and deliver the 
contributions to local community food banks. About 1,500 local NALC 
branches throughout the U.S. were involved in the drive.
  Others involved in the success of the nation's largest one-day effort 
to combat hunger were Saturn-UAW Union partnership Initiative, local 
United Ways, the AFL-CIO, and Family Circle creator and cartoonist Bill 
Keane. The Campbell Soup Company donated one million pounds of canned 
goods.
  The National Association of Letter Carriers is the union of city 
delivery carriers employed by the U.S. Postal Service which has a long 
tradition of participating in community service. The NALC ``Stamp Out 
Hunger'' food drive is just one example of the members' generosity and 
commitment to the communities that they serve.
  It is fitting that we applaud the sense of community displayed by the 
members of the NALC, who like their fellow postal workers, have 
demonstrated their dedication and pride in carrying out their daily 
jobs. I urge my colleagues to join me in commending the National 
Association of Letter Carriers, their sponsors, and the millions of 
Americans who donated food on May 11. Their geneorsity will help ease 
the plight of hunger for millions for men, women, and children in the 
United States.

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