Meridian postal carriers will carry a heavier load and pull double-duty Saturday – delivering mail while collecting food donations left at mailboxes for the annual Letter Carriers Food Drive.

The postal workers – local and rural – will be participating in the 26th annual National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Food Drive. “Stamp Out Hunger” is the theme for what has evolved into the largest one-day food drive in the nation.

The drive is held in 10,000 cities and towns in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Guam.

Last year, letter carriers collected more than 75.3 million pounds of food nationally, feeding an estimated 30 million people.

“Locally, about 40,000 pounds of non-perishable food items were collected in the Meridian area last year,” said Quintin Joseph, who serves as vice-president of the local NALC Branch #487. “We will distribute the food items to organizations such as the Salvation Army, Wesley House, and L.O.V.E.’s Kitchen.

According to the U.S. Postal Service, the food drive’s timing is crucial. Food banks and pantries often receive the majority of donations during the Thanksgiving and winter holiday season. By springtime, many pantries are depleted, entering the summer low on supplies at a time when many school breakfast and lunch programs are not available to children in need. 

Customers should leave their non-perishable food donations in a bag near their mailbox on Saturday, May 12, before their letter carrier arrives. Those with post office boxes may take their food donations to the post office where they pick up their mail, Joseph said.

The top requested non-perishable food items are: cereal, pasta, pasta sauce or spaghetti sauce, rice, canned fruits and vegetables, canned meals (such as soups, chili and pasta), 100% juice, peanut butter, macaroni and cheese, canned protein (tuna, chicken and turkey), beans (canned or dry). Items that are expired or those in glass containers should not be included.

Patti Hobgood has worked as a letter carrier for the USPS for 20 years with 13 of those being a letter carrier. She started on the west side of Meridian but now delivers mail in north Meridian. Hobgood said the food drive is one thing she looks forward to each year.

“When I see people that don’t have a lot and give from their heart, it’s such a blessing to me – I like to call it the Widow’s Mite,” Hobgood said. “It also gives me a chance to see my customers I don’t normally see, because they come out to the mailbox to bring their goods – it gives me a chance to reconnect.

“I’m just glad we are able to pull all this together and everyone does their share,” Hobgood said. We all throw our little bitty pieces of help together to turn it into something big and gratifying.”

Bench memorializes Clarkdale student

Clarkdale High School 2018 graduating class, with the help of parents and many others, dedicated a buddy-bench in memory of one of their classmates, who died on May 27, 2014.

The buddy-bench stands on the elementary playground in memory of Sam Johnson as a reminder to be kind, never leave anyone out and be a buddy to all around.

“That fits our Sam to a “T”, Wendy Stephens said. “I know this, if Sam were here he would be brightly smiling, mischievously looking at each one while giving a warm bear hug, and a big hearty “I love you! And that he did – he loved well.”

Quitman grad serves in Navy

A Shubuta native and 1998 Quitman High School graduate is serving in the U.S. Navy aboard one of the world’s most advanced nuclear-powered submarines, USS Greeneville. Senior Chief Petty Officer Keith Cameron works as a sonar technician serving aboard the Pearl Harbor-based submarine, one of 56 fast attack submarines in the U.S. Navy. A Navy sonar technician is responsible for managing the sonar division and acting as the tactical advisor for the boat. 

“A big lesson I learned growing up is to embrace diversity,” Cameron said. “There are a lot of things that happen that people are closed minded about. Being exposed to diversity early on allows you to bring more tools to tasks you’re trying to do in this job. It is important to embrace it and realize the advantages.” 

Senior citizens recognized

As part of Older Americans Month, three prominent seniors in the community were honored this week at Comedy Night held at Northcrest Baptist Church. Among those recognized for their outstanding dedication and service to the community were Tony Sansone, Arlene Baker and Benny Harrison.

Cheryl Owens writes the Neighbors column for The Meridian Star. Submit items to cowens@themeridianstar.com.