Postal Service workers based in Pottsville collect over 2 tons of food for Stamp Out Hunger

Jun 30, 2023

Workers with the United States Postal Service in Pottsville collected more than 2 tons of food products on Saturday that were donated to two local food pantries.

The collections were done as part of the local chapter of the National Association of Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive.

Ray Beltz, union steward at the post office in Pottsville, said more than 4,500 pounds of dry and canned goods were collected by between 30 and 35 local Postal Service employees.

The items were then given to the Salvation Army in Pottsville and Holy Family Food Pantry in Minersville.

Beltz said that in Minersville, donations are becoming harder to obtain because of the overall increased cost of living.

"They were very grateful," he said. "At Holy Family, their food pantry was basically bare."

The collections were made in the five ZIP code areas served by the post office in Pottsville.

Beltz said postal employees have been taking part in Stamp Out Hunger for more than 25 years, with only 2020 and 2021 not having collections due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said that last year, the collection netted a little more than Saturday's total.

Beltz surmised that with higher prices, people are unable to give as much to the campaign.

Postal workers will continue to participate in Stamp Out Hunger to help the communities they serve, Beltz said.

Contact the writer: [email protected]; 570-628-6013

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Frank has been a police reporter for The Republican-Herald since 2002 Read More...

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