I feel the need.... the need to feed...

Oh wow, your first official mother's day, that's so cool! It seems like it's been forever.

Thanks for the reminder, will do.

It does seem like a long time, doesn't it? We've done Mother's Day for several years now but the adoption was really just finished last September so this is a first in a new way.

I love this food drive. I think it is the best conceived and best run charity event in America. It is so easy and so direct. Really, hat's off to the USPS for this one.

Interesting. Nevah hoird of et!

*runs off to Google it*

The USPS press release on this event:

http://www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/2007/pr07_0508.htm

Apparently my town doesn't participate.

Yeah, mine either. No postcards anyway, and I can't find any reference anywhere. Can't find a master list of cities that participate, can you, fishin'?

There doesn't seem to be a master list anywhere. You'd think with something this large there would be...

Hmmm.. I take that back. There is a list... sort of.

If you know your Post Office Branch number you can look here:

http://www.nalc.org/commun/foodrive/Coords-5-9-2007.html

It looks like if your post office branch isn't listed then they aren't participating.

Usually they give postcards but this year my mailman left a bag to fill. A little yellow bag -- maybe look for that in your mailbox instead of a postcard.

I don't understand communities that don't participate. It is such a great idea.

The last year that I had my studio we did a promo for the food drive and collected about 700 pounds of food over the three weeks preceding the event. I don't know why more business' don't get involved. It was great for my shop. We did gangbusters during the promo.

They say that food banks are under a lot of stress right now because so many military families are having to use them.

With school almost over for the year, the food banks are sure to come under additional stress.

It takes so little to do so much.

Maybe in areas that don't participate people could maybe think about sending a check to their area food bank this weekend.

The USPS always does this the Saturday before Mother's Day.

Do it for your mom.

i wonder. Here in Abq, postal service is farmed off to some side firm that does delivery. (Hmm, would they like some curry fixings..)

I've checked for several years - Cambridge doesn't usually do the food drive.

They are doing it!

Yeah, Cambridge!

I remember in years past, littlek, your lamenting of the fact that your community didn't participate. I'm glad they finally got with the program.

I think high density student areas probably don't particpate as they should. But really, it takes so little to help that even people without a lot of money can do a lot of good.

Five dollars will buy a couple of jars of peanut butter, or several cannisters of oatmeal, or lots of beans and pasta.

I usually budget what I would spend on a casual meal out -- about $40.00. I go to the discount store and stock up on non-perishables. If I find a good sale on, say, cereal, I'll spend the whole $40 on cereal.

Then, instead of going out for a meal, I'll have cereal for dinner.

And it's the best bowl of cereal ever.

Really, nobody in America should go to bed hungry.

Boomer, I am putting out canned pineapple, beans, roasted-stewed tomatoes. I usually buy canned food through the year that I never eat. If it's been in the pantry fo more than a few months and I haven't eaten it - I'll put it out. Maybe I'll add to it.

Find participating po locations didn't give me a clue except to tell me what I already know, where my post office is. Eh?

Canned beans and tomatoes earmarked for this year.

Nope.

And they don't seem to be doing it here either -- just one branch, and I haven't figured out which one it is. I'm pretty sure it's not mine but if it's close enough maybe I'll just take some stuff straight there.

I just called my Post Office and they checked with "Ray", my carrier, and Ray allows as how he'll pick up a bag of groceries if it's sittin' right by the mailbox.

Cupboard cleaning day.

I received mine yesterday - didn't note the date though as I had a busy night. Thanks for the reminder though.

Boomer--

You are responsible for a major detour in my day. I will feel virtuous as soon as I've finished feeling woefully behinders.