Published: May 21, 2009 10:38 am      

Tuttle food drive nets 6,897 pounds

Letter carriers in Oklahoma were greeted at post offices earlier this month y eager volunteers ready to sort donations for the National Association of Letter Carriers Food Drive, which benefits the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma and its over 450 partner agencies. Oklahomans did their part to “Stamp Out Hunger” by donating more than 630,000 pounds of food, a record-breaking amount, which will provide nearly 500,000 meals to hungry Oklahomans. Tuttle residents alone collected 6,897 pounds of food, which will provide 5,388 meals to hungry Tuttle residents.

 “The number of Oklahomans seeking food assistance has reached new heights,” said Rodney Bivens, executive director of the Regional Food Bank. “Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of the letter carriers, volunteers and community, the Regional Food Bank will be able to feed more hungry Oklahomans this summer.”

The following cities participated in the 17th annual Letter Carriers Food Drive: Altus, Ardmore, Bethany, Blanchard, Chickasha, Del City, Duncan, Edmond, Elk City, Enid, Guthrie, Lawton, Midwest City, Moore, Mustang, Newcastle, Norman, Oklahoma City, Pauls Valley, Ponca City, Sayre, Shawnee, Spencer, Stillwater, Tuttle, Warr Acres, Weatherford, Wynnewood and Yukon.   All food donations will be distributed within the community in which they were donated.

Last year, Letter Carriers collected nearly 600,000 pounds of food, which provided over 465,000 meals to hungry Oklahomans in 53 central and western counties.