Drive collects 1.7 million pounds of food

Letter carriers collect record amount of food

More than 4,000 letter carriers throughout Oregon and Clark County collected a record 1,711,519 pounds of food in a single day during an annual food drive, the Oregon Food Bank announced Tuesday.

The 2010 Letter Carriers Food Drive increased its haul by 6.6 percent over the 2009 collection, according to the news bulletin. In addition, the drive raised $98,561.

The food donations were collected May 8 during the National Association of Letter Carriers Food Drive. Mail carriers picked up the nonperishable food items as they walked or drove their routes.

Items collected during the “Stamp Out Hunger” drive will be distributed to 935 food banks throughout Oregon and southwest Washington, according to Rachel Bristol, the CEO of the Oregon Food Bank.

“Distribution of emergency food and the number of people served throughout the OFB Network has reached unprecedented levels during the past fiscal year, and the need remains alarmingly high,” Bristol said.

To donate to OFB, visit http://www.oregonfoodbank.org. Through a partnership with the bank, Wells Fargo customers can donate to OFB at any Wells Fargo ATM in Oregon and southwest Washington.