SEBASTIAN — The postal workers’ 20th annual food drive, Stamp Out Hunger, was held May 12 and was a huge success in Sebastian. It is the nation’s largest single food drive.
This year’s event yielded 27,000 pounds of non-perishable food, with 6,734 pounds going to each of the four contributing charities: The River Funds Feed Everyone program, the Ecumenical Food Pantry, Lord’s Table Soup Kitchen, and Abiding Presence International.
These organizations have local missions of feeding people in need in Sebastian and the surrounding areas. More than 150 volunteers met at the Sebastian Post Office and helped unload, sort, and pack the groceries to be distributed.
Seniors are also continuing to juggle buying expensive medicines or buying food, as are families suffering from high unemployment in Indian River County. By the River, Sebastian’s independent residential community for low-income seniors, founded by spiritual teacher Ma Jaya, is a beneficiary of The River Funds Feed Everyone program.
”This is our 11th year for The River Funds program, and everyone knows what to do,” said Becky Allan, coordinator of the Sebastian “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive. ”It’s really a well-oiled machine. I’m very grateful for the generosity of our community and the same sponsors who support the volunteers year after year.”
”All the people donated a lot. From Dunkin’ Donuts this morning with coffee to all the rest who donated, this team is great. We love doing it,” explained Bruce Zingman, who has been helping The River Fund for seven years.
The approaching summer months are critical times for these missions, because summer is a time when children are not going to school where they are usually fed up to two meals a day.
This puts additional strain on families already struggling to meet their food needs. These families then have to rely on food ministries to fill the gap.
For more information, please call Ms. Allan at (724) 816-3242 or visit www.HelpStampOutHunger.com.
