Community Corner
Emergency Food Network Receives 316,209 Pounds of Donated Food
Letter carriers food drive brings in peanut butter, canned fruit and more from generous residents across Pierce County.
The goal was 300,000 pounds.
Pierce County residents actually donated 316,209 pounds of food to last weekend's 20th-annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, sponsored by the National Association of Letter Carriers.
The annual food drive is especially important to Emergency Food Network, which distributes food to 67 food banks, meal sites and shelters in Pierce County. Last year, the Lakewood-based organization distributed 13.1 million pounds of food worth $16.5 million on a $2.2 million budget.
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According to a news release, the effort was truly community based.
McKinney Trailers and Containers donated the use of 15 trailers to store the collected food during the daylong drive, and Bank of America sponsored the purchase of 312,000 bags that letter carriers delivered to area residents. Volunteers helped postal carriers on their routes to pick up food and load it onto trucks and Realtors from the Tacoma Pierce County Association of Realtors sorted food in EFN’s warehouse after the food drive.
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Among the items donated were proteins including peanut butter, canned meats, soups and vegetables, which are crucial for the health of families in need.
EFN distributes more than a million pounds of food each month, which means that the letter carriers' food drive brought in about a week's worth of nourishment for those in need. Food Drives play an important role in helping EFN meet the needs of hungry Pierce County residents.
To learn more about EFN, volunteering, or to obtain a food drive information packet, visit www.efoodnet.org or call 253-584-1040.
EFN graciously shared some photos from the food drive last week. Check them out!
