Letter carriers ready for 18th annual food drive

Special to the Green Valley News

Since 1992, U.S. Postal Service letter carriers have joined together one Saturday in May to collect non-perishable food for area food banks.

Letter carriers in Green Valley and Sahuarita are getting ready for the 18th annual food drive on May 9 when residents are asked to leave non-perishable canned or packaged food in their mail box.

“Last year, we collected 30,106 pounds of food and $33,645. This year, our goal is 35,000 pounds and $35,000,” said Executive Director of the Green Valley Food Bank Mary Jane Goodrick.

Postmaster of the Green Valley post office Sandy Rios said long-time letter carriers John and Donna Troutwine have participated in the annual food drive their entire careers.

She said John’s twin brother, Jim, is also a letter carrier in Green Valley and has worked the food drive every year. He has even volunteered when it was his day off.

His wife, Bernie Troutwine, a rural carrier in Sahuarita, also participates in the food drive.

“In addition to this, the brother’s parents, John and Jan Troutwine, volunteer every year and go out and empty letter carriers’ vehicles as they fill up on the routes taking the food back to the Food Bank,” Rios said.

Though the community continues to be generous, Goodrick said due to limited warehouse space after a large food drive such as the Letter Carriers’ drive, storage is sometimes a problem.

“This year, Green Valley Village is generously donating some warehouse space and we are very grateful,” she said.

As the school year is about to end and children no longer have the advantage of school lunches, there is the additional need for food for growing children in the greater Green Valley and Sahuarita area.

“Year ’round residents continue to be generous, but with winter visitors gone we need all the donations we can get,” Goodrick added.

Ellen Sussman is a freelance writer in Green Valley. Contact her at ellen2414@cox.net