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Just in case you haven't heard or forgot, U.S. mail carriers throughout the U.S. will be collecting food/sundries today - May 12th! Just leave a bag with whatever you can spare at your mailbox and they will do the rest...

Very simple way to help others during these tough times. I've already loaded my bag - some canned vegetables, a big jug of laundry detergent, some toothpaste and a few treats as well! What can you share?

I think this is a wonderful project. Unfortunately, I am gone today and have no mail delivery (mini vacation) but I do plan to take my sack to the post office on Monday after we return. (I assume they will take it)!

Martha

Just put my bag of food in the mailbox for pick-up. I always try to include things the food pantry may not normally receive, but a family could use. This time: a box of Cornstarch, box of Brownie mix, two cans of frosting, two cans of soup.

Assembled my bag last night after I found my postcard reminder. I included some pouch cookie mix, some canned veggies, box of lasagna noodles, cans of soup, stuffing mix. DH has a food drive at his office so we'll be contributing there as well.

Yep, we participate every year. Glad you brought up this topic, IR.

Ours is already outside by the mailbox: tuna in water; pork and beans; oatmeal (not the instant kind); canned veggies; canned soup; pasta; tomato sauce.

My bag has been ready for 2 days. DH gets to take it down the driveway (0.1mi.) and hang it on the mailbox.
Mine included some jello, some sloppy joe mixes, some hamburger helpers...stuff like that.

I put mine out this morning. I do wish they would do this a week of two earlier in the year. I worry about can goods sitting outside in the heat for several hours.

Thanks IR!

Hand delivered a bag right to the carrier this morning. Lots of goodies to help someone.

Our bag had a bag of dry pinto beans, canned green beans, a jar of peanut butter, a large can of tuna.

Hope I can remember some of the different items posted for the drive next year.

A few years ago, a drive requested recipes and the ingredients (non perisable ones) to make it. Forgot who sponsored that one. Think I did a casserole. Think that was what they requested. Thought it was a good idea.

I fixed my bag on Wed. and put it on the porch so I would not forget to put it on the mailbox. Then I put the bag on the mailbox on Friday (because I thought it was Saturday) and wondered why the mailperson did not take it

But all is well -- it was taken today. Canned chicken, lemon pudding, few cans of veggies and fruits.

Glad to see so many people taking part in it - very little effort on our parts but a great pay-off in the end!

Thinking about this food drive and the fact that it is Mother's Day brought back a memory for me that I thought you might enjoy. My Mom passed 12 years ago, but she had the best sense of humor of anyone I have ever known, so thought you all might enjoy this:

In 2000, I called to remind her about the postal food collection (just as I did here) and she said she had forgotten BUT would take a sack out right then to her mailbox. Mom still lived at her home of many years - on her own - since Dad had passed 2 years before BUT, occasionally, she forgot things...

Well, got an infuriated call from her late the next day. She found someone had brought her a bag of groceries which was left at her mailbox and she was very insulted to think someone thought she was "needy." I reminded her of the food drive and asked if maybe "she" had taken the bag of food out there? No, of course, not!

Next day when I got there, the bag of groceries were sitting by the back door and she insisted that I take them with me and drop them off at the local food bank since she certainly didn't need them and others did.

Miss you, Mom! You brought laughter, love, kindness and compassion into every life you touched! For everyone else, I wish you a beautiful Mother's Day celebrating the ones still with you or remembering those that have gone before....