By By KATHIE HEMPEL / Niles Daily Star
NILES – Thanks to residents of Niles, this year's letter carrier's food drive surpassed all expectations. Approximately an additional 8,000 pounds of food, more than last year, were collected in Niles alone.
With the other five offices collecting an additional 2,000 pounds over and above 2006 totals, this year's food drive locally has an estimated total of over 53,888 pounds of food donated from the National Association of Letter Carriers local No. 775.
"We can't say enough about our local communities and all those who helped by allowing us to place some of the 200 yard signs on their lawns. We have exceeded our previous year by approximately 1,000 pounds in recent years, but 10,000 pounds? We are truly blown away." local publicity manager, Chris Cloud said.
"Amazingly, this was accomplished while short-handed with vacation season beginning and a few carriers out sick. We have to thank all those volunteers who helped the carriers," Cloud said.
This year there was more national publicity in addition to the local efforts with lawn signs and local media coverage.
The increased donations were not completely weighed-in until Monday morning and official totals both locally and for the national campaign are expected over the next couple of days.
Those mailing letters are reminded the postal rate increase of two cents went into effect Monday, with a letter now costing 41 cents.