To the Editor:
The 31st annual Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive took place all across the United States on Saturday, May 13. It is the largest one-day food drive in the country. We are very grateful that the Altamont Post Office continues to voluntarily participate in this effort, with the goal of helping to alleviate hunger in our community.

They make it easy — neighbors just leave their donations in a bag by their mailbox and the postal workers pick it up along their normal routes. It may be easy for the donors, but definitely added work for our letter carriers and those back at the post office who have to do double duty.

They are already working hard to process and deliver our mail, but then have the added work of collecting the many items and making sure they are all bagged or boxed to be given to the Altamont Community Food Pantry. Thank you!

Of course, there is no food drive without donations. The post office cannot do it alone. Thank you to the many generous people who participated in helping to feed our neighbors in need. Your donations provide much needed supplemental food support to those who face hunger and food insecurity.

No doubt, these are challenging times. At the food pantry, we are finding that the need is high and overall donations are down.

What makes things even more challenging for the food pantry, as it does for each household, is the rising cost of purchasing food. The Altamont Community Food Pantry purchases the majority of food as well as toiletries and some household items, from the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York.

Since COVID, the food bank has worked even harder to meet the ever-growing needs of the large area they service. Unfortunately, the cost of most everything has increased substantially and the availability of items continues to be an issue.

It seems that the donations from our community are needed even more now than they may have been in recent years. So once again, thank you to all who came together, as always, with compassion and generosity, to support those in need.

The Altamont Community Food Pantry is open on the first and third Monday of each month from noon to 5 p.m. (schedule may change with holidays). Appointments are preferred.

The pantry is located in the St. Lucy / St. Bernadette Parish Center at 122 Grand Street in Altamont. Anyone who is currently facing food insecurity or would like to make a donation, please call 518-861-8770 (St. Lucy / St. Bernadette Church Office) or during food pantry hours, you may call 518-861-6542.

Judy Seery

Director

Altamont Community

Food Pantry