May 8 was the national U.S. Postal Letter Carriers food drive event — an event held to serve those needy in our communities. Aside from their normal mail deliveries, letter carriers picked up food donations from their many communities and delivered them to their home post office, where organizations providing food bank services picked up the donations, delivered them to their respective food banks and then began distributing them to those in need.

I am a volunteer at the Hopelink Northshore/Kirkland Foodbank. Through the generosity of those giving in the community and the fine work of the letter carriers and postal employees, we gathered approximately 70,000 pounds of non-perishable food for the food bank. Our volunteers are even now still sorting out this bonanza and providing it to those in need. We are so grateful, especially as our needy family count has now moved above 1,250, just in our service area!

Letter carriers and postal workers are not recognized enough for their commitment, generosity, caring and hard work. I for one, Hopelink and our many volunteers — and those whose needs are being provided for — thank you very much.

Bill LaMarche, Hopelink volunteer