Local letter carriers will conduct their annual food drive on Saturday, Dec. 13.
Postal customers are urged to place nonperishable foods, particularly canned goods, in bags and hang them from their mailbox. All the food collected by local carriers will stay in Sweet Home, where it will be distributed by Sweet Home Emergency Ministries (SHEM).
Tom Gates, of the Oregon State Association of National Association of Letter Carriers, said that carriers in the Eugene and Sweet Home areas have collected 1.5 million pounds of food during the 23 years the drive has been held. Sweet Home’s participation has begun more recently, he said.
“We know unemployment is skyrocketing in Oregon and I’m sure Sweet Home is one of hardest-hit,” Gates said.
Sweet Home Postmaster Ralph Peterson emphazied that donations will go to local needy people.
“All of it stays right here in town,” he said.