Organizers say the May 8 Letter Carriers Food Drive was a complete

success, with more than 20 tons of food donated to area food banks.

Carmen Gentry, food bank coordinator for Community Connection of Northeast Oregon, said Union County led the way, leaving some 19,000 pounds of food by mailboxes for the letter carriers to pick up.

Wallowa and Baker counties donated 10,000 pounds, and Grant County 2,000 pounds, Gentry said.

Gentry praised the letter carriers’ hard work in picking up the food and transporting it to collection sites.

“The letter carriers definitely stamped out hunger this year,” she said. “This food drive runs like a finely-tuned machine. Everyone knows their role and knows how to keep the products rolling.”

The food drive is an annual event and is vital to keeping pantries stocked, Gentry said.

“All our food pantries appreciate the hard work the letter carriers and rural carriers go through on this day to help the hungry people of our communities,” she said.