Drive stamps out hunger

SANDUSKY — Once again, in a post office-supervised drive, locals delivered in a big way. They put forth a first-class effort in donating food, hygiene products and more to area nonprofits serving underprivileged community members. During Saturday's annual Letter Carriers' Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, the Sandusky post office collected at least 21,000 pounds in items. They ranged from canned goods to laundry detergent. Additionally, following the drive, Toft Dairy agreed to work with drive organizers to supply milk, about 400 gallons worth, for those in this target population. As volunteers continue weighing and sorting out materials, they're on track to reach last year's amount of 29,000 pounds of products donated. Regardless, it marks a massive uptick from the amount collected in 2022, roughly 10,000 pounds. The 2024 campaign rallied around a theme of "We need your support more than ever," according to a statement. "I want to thank all who were involved: the letter carriers, the volunteers and all of our sponsors who made our food drive so successful," said Wayne Roesch, a retired Sandusky post officer worker who helped organize this drive each year. "And I also want to sincerely thank our community for their generosity. Generosity changes everything." Sandusky represents one of many communities nationwide to take part in this campaign. It's the country's largest all-volunteer, one-day food collection effort. In the days leading up to Saturday's event, carriers delivered grocery bags to every resident in the Sandusky-Perkins Township area. They then asked people to fill up these bags and place them where carriers collect their mail. All the food collected in a given community stays there. For instance, Sandusky's drive benefited Care and Share of Erie County, Father's Heart Family Church, OHgo and Victory Kitchen. "Everything will be split up evenly between them," Roesch said. Some people also donated cash. With the money, Roesch and others intend on purchasing eggs, vegetables and other fresh foods for those in need. "It is hard to express the amount of gratitude and appreciation we have with a simple 'thank you,'" said Anita Kromer, director of Care And Share. "The work and the effort of the U.S. postal carriers and the generosity of the community is overwhelming." Want to donate? Monetary donations, meanwhile, can be sent to the following address: • Letter Carrier Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive • c/o Sandusky Post Office • 2220 Caldwell St. • Sandusky, OH 44870