Post office ready to stamp out hunger with drive

SCOTTSBLUFF — Each day, Randy Wallerich walks eight to 12 miles on his route, delivering mail to boxes affixed to houses, his bag hanging off his shoulders. Once a year, he and every other postal employee take a day to collect non-perishable goods from customers, to be delivered to local food banks.

According to NACL, nearly 49 million Americans, or 1 in 6, are unsure where their next meal is coming from. This includes 13 million children as well as about 5 million seniors over age 60, many of whom live on fixed incomes and often are too embarrassed to ask for help. On Saturday, May 13, residents can help alleviate the uncertainty of a next meal with the National Association of Letter Carriers’ (NACL) annual “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive.

This year celebrates the 25th year letter carriers have hosted the food drive and is Wallerich’s 11th in the Panhandle. He spent a year and a half in Memphis, Tennessee, where he also participated in the program, which sees everyone associated with the postal service volunteering their time to collecting non-perishable food items left by residents near their mailbox. It is the nation’s largest one-day food collection event.

“Every person, from rural carriers to city carriers are enlisted to help,” he said. “I participated my first year as a custodian at the post office.”

Retired postal worker Kirby Meyers helped last year, Wallerich said.

“He was my main helper,” Wallerich said.

Wallerich has recruited at least one Boy Scouts Troop from Gering that will help collect the items.

Wallerich said he and his wife understand barely making above minimum wage. They also understand the importance of helping out your local community in whatever way you can.

“We’ve been without,” he said. “We know what it’s like.”

For Wallerich, it’s all about trying to help your fellow man and providing service to your community.

“I like doing things for the community I live in,” he said. “It’s all about teamwork and if it wasn’t for the men and women at the post office, this wouldn’t be possible.”

Although Wallerich helps organize the day, he said it wouldn’t be possible without the help of retirees, management and everyone else at the post office who takes the time to give back.

“They all understand the community,” he said. “It’s one day a year and the fun thing is to be outdoors.”

Carriers collect non-perishable food donations left by mailboxes and in post offices and deliver them to local community food banks, pantries and shelters. Nearly 1,500 National Association of Letter Carriers branches in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands are involved.

Last year, carriers collected one ton of food to be used in our area. Wallerich hopes to gather more.

To donate, place a box or can of non-perishable food next to your mailbox before your letter carrier delivers mail on Saturday, May 13. The carrier will do the rest. Food is sorted, and delivered to several local food pantries, where it will be available for needy families.

“I have some people who would prefer to give money,” he said. “Just make your check out to NACL.”

Wallerich is trying to make sure everyone knows about the event after posters that are usually seen hanging in local businesses leading up to the day aren’t there.

“This year, the check we sent to get the posters was lost in the mail,” he said.

He laughs as he continues his route. He knows it’s funny, but that’s really what happened, he said.

Wallerich believes it is important for everyone who can participate to do so. He’s happy to collect whatever people can give.

“This is where we live,” he said. “This is where we should give.”