Published: May 15, 2008 07:46 pm         

Contagious Generosity

7,336 pounds of food picked up

Neatly packaged bundles of food patiently sat at mailboxes all over Laurel County Saturday as people participated in Stamp Out Hunger Day. The London Post Office collected its biggest haul yet — a whopping 7,336 pounds of food.

“Last year, we picked up 6,166 pounds,” organizer and fellow letter carrier Donnie Marcum said. “Probably when it’s all said and done, we’ll have 1,500 pounds more than last year.”

Marcum was astounded by people’s generosity.

“It seems like the people who had the least to give gave the most,” he said. “I was just hoping to match last year. But during hard times people tend to dig a little deeper.”

Marcum said he was particularly impressed by the residents of Carnaby Square.

“These people are low income and they donated between 200 and 225 pounds of food,” he said. “That’s just unreal.”

At the London Post Office Monday morning, one room was stuffed with bins of food, including everything from Zatarain’s New Orleans rice to Mini Wheats to brownie mix. One woman donated a whole case of chicken noodle soup.

“And the ladies at the Vision Center at Wal-Mart collected 51 pounds,” Marcum said.

For the event, 31 letter carriers participated.

Karl Williams covers Route 19, which includes areas like Golden Eagle subdivision and Laurel River Road.

“I think they were very gracious,” he said. “They did a good job on my route.”

All of the donations were brought to Come-Unity Cooperative Care.

Executive Director Brenda Morgan was thrilled.

“It’s absolutely a blessing,” she said.