Transcript Staff Writer
Tom Lawler, local coordinator of the May 10 National Association of Letter Carriers food drive, called the results "mind boggling."
"Last year we collected 18,000 pounds of non-perishable food items," Lawler said. "This year we collected 36,900 pounds. We more than doubled last year's total. It shocked us."
Letter carriers, with the help of rural carriers, volunteers and other postal employees, stage the annual "Stamp Out Hunger" food drive in every U.S. state and jurisdiction to combat hunger in America.
With the NALC (AFL-CIO) food drive in its 16th year, the 36,000 pounds was an all-time local record, Lawler said.
"I've been doing this for 11 years, and I've never seen so many donations," Lawler said. "With the economy in turmoil, we're shocked how the people of Norman open their cupboards."
The only difference in this year's drive was the plastic bags delivered to postal customers beforehand, Lawler said. "Previously, we just passed out the food drive cards," he said -- informational postcards reminding customers of the drive.
"Everybody participated and everybody should get the credit," he said.
The canned goods and other food items were distributed among the Salvation Army, Food and Shelter for Friends, Alameda Church of Christ and the CrossPointe Church food closets, he said.
"It was great. The volunteers worked for a good three and a half hours. They all showed up by 3, and we reserved four parking stalls (outside the post office). We put the food in tubs, weighed it and put it right into the vehicles (from the food closets). They drive back to the food closet and we pull another car into the stall.
"By 6:30, all the food had been put into tubs, weighed and shipped out. It's a hard three and a half hours, but we have a routine that works," Lawler said.
Donations turned in Monday or Tuesday were given to the Mission Norman food closet, he said.
The drive is the largest one-day food collection in the nation and the biggest community service effort by any union affiliated with the AFL-CIO.
Lawler said the May 10 food drive's goal was 22,000 pounds.
"We'll make a little higher next year," he said.
