Area agencies to benefit from May 12 food drive
"It's really not that difficult. It feels good to give back." - Colleen Latyshev
BY TOYNETT HALL
Staff Writer

Joshua House Ministries, a subsidiary and Christian outreach program of Pierce Memorial Presbyterian Church, Farmingdale, will be one of the many recipients to receive a donation from the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) food drive May 12.

The 15th annual nationwide one-day food drive will be conducted by letter carriers who will collect nonperishable donations as they deliver mail along their postal routes, according to information provided by the NALC's Internet Web site.

The Web site states that the food will be collected in more than 10,000 communities by nearly 1,500 local branches of the postal union, along with rural carriers and other volunteers.

According to Bill Bastedo, treasurer of Joshua House Ministries, the inventory for the program's emergency food pantry fluctuates throughout the year.

"There is an increase in giving during the holidays and a decrease in donations during the summer months, he said.

According to Bastedo, Joshua House serves between 60 and 108 families and 350 individuals on a monthly basis. He said the May 12 food drive will help the program to further its mission, which is taken from Matthew, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."

Bastedo said it is important for people to give throughout the year.

"Having a community that is conscious of those who are in need 12 months of the year is important," he said.

Colleen Latyshev, the shop steward and NACL representative for the Farmingdale post office, said 900 pounds of food were collected in last year's food drive. She is hoping to top that amount in 2007 and she is encouraging everyone to make a donation.

"It's really not that difficult. It feels good to give back. At the end you feel like you've made a difference," Latyshev said.

According to NACL's Web site, "Residents will be asked to leave nonperishable donations such as canned meat, fish, soup, cereals, pasta and rice in a bag near their mailbox on May 12 before their letter carrier arrives. It will be taken to the local post office and then delivered to a local food bank, pantry or shelter."

The food drive is co-sponsored by the United States Postal Service, Campbell Soup Co., Cox Target Media-Valpak, local United Way agencies, the AFL-CIO, and America's Second Harvest food bank network.