Gleaners Rallies for Nation's Largest 1 Day Food Drive

DETROIT, MI, May 11, 2012 (Press-News.org) On Thursday, May 10, 2012 beginning at 9:00 AM, Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan (Gleaners) will host a kick off rally for the 20th annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive (www.helpstampouthunger.com) taking place Saturday, May 12, 2012. The nation's largest one-day food drive is a partnership between the United States Postal Service (USPS), the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) and locally, Gleaners. The organizations hope to exceed last year's total donation of 70.2 million pounds of food and 52.8 million meals. Locally, donations totaled nearly one million pounds of food in 2011. The organizations also hope to surpass one billion pounds of food collected over the 19-year history of the drive.

-9:00 AM: A caravan of postal trucks will leave NALC Union Hall at 1400 Trumball in Detroit

-10:00 AM: The caravan of postal trucks will arrive at Gleaners' warehouse: 2131 Beaufait in Detroit. The Truman High School Marching Band performs the National Anthem, and a large contingent of postal workers will greet the caravan upon their arrival.

Gleaners' President DeWayne Wells will welcome all guests to the rally. Detroit News Columnist Neal Rubin will act as the master of ceremonies introducing the people responsible for putting on southeast Michigan's largest one-day food drive.

Special guests and speakers include: Kirk Lewis, deputy mayor, City of Detroit; Jerry Powell, district manager, Kroger Corporation; Dan Florkowski, president, Michigan State Association of Letter Carriers; Sue Figurski, coordinator, Macomb County Food Bank; Lloyd Wesley Jr., postmaster, City of Detroit, along with a variety of other postal representatives.

"This is the 20th year the Letter Carriers are mobilizing our community to pitch in and feed our hungry neighbors, and we're very grateful," says DeWayne Wells, president of Gleaners. "The food they collect Saturday will help stock food pantry shelves during the summer, when kids are out of school and families need extra help to make up for those lost school meals. Without Stamp Out Hunger, Gleaners would really struggle to meet the need."

On Saturday, May 12, 2012, letter carriers will collect non-perishable donations from homes as they deliver mail along their postal routes. Gleaners will receive food shipments from Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Monroe and Livingston counties.

For more information or to make a donation, call 1-866-GLEANER or visit GCFB.org. Get a Mobile Reminder! Text Gleaners to 27138 so you won't forget to help Stamp Out Hunger on Saturday, May 12, 2012.

Follow @Gleaners @StampOutHunger on Twitter and http://www.facebook.com/Gleanersfan for updates on this years food drive.

Gerry Brisson, Executive VP of Advancement for Gleaners is available to discuss Gleaners' growing need for food.

About Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan
For more than 32 years, Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan (Gleaners) has been nourishing the community by feeding hungry people. In 2009 Gleaners distributed more than 30 million pounds of emergency food to over 430 partner soup kitchens, shelters and pantries in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Livingston and Monroe counties. Of every dollar donated, Gleaners uses 96 cents for food and food programs. One dollar provides three meals for a hungry neighbor. Learn more at http://www.gcfb.org.

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