Oklahoma Mailmen Collect 20,000 Pounds from Poorest Neighbors

John Turcotte stops his mail truck five or six times on a single street, not to deliver letters but to collect bags of food from neighbors who want to help others facing hunger.

For decades, the letter carrier has worked South Oklahoma City and Del City, an area he describes as home to many lower-income families. Each year during the Stamp Out Hunger food drive, his route becomes one of the most generous in the entire state, collecting between 15,000 and 20,000 pounds of donations.

"A lot of the area that we have is lower-income families, people that don't have a whole lot," Turcotte said. "And to be honest with you, I think that is really what makes the difference. It's people that, 'Hey, I've needed help before, so I'm willing to give.'"

The annual drive works simply. More than 100 Oklahoma post offices distribute bags to homes across 53 counties. A week later, letter carriers pick up whatever families leave out for the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma.

One family spotted Turcotte on his route and asked if he'd reached their street yet because they had a donation waiting. When he arrived, he saw eight full grocery bags in the bed of their truck and started asking which ones they wanted to donate. Their answer surprised him: all of it.

But the gifts that move him most are often the smallest ones. Residents frequently apologize for only having a single can of corn or a couple packets of instant soup to give.

"People give me a can of corn and I thank them explicitly," Turcotte said. "It doesn't take much, anything helps."

The Ripple Effect

Southeast Station's massive haul represents just one post office among more than 100 participating statewide. Edmond, Guthrie, Midwest City, and Yukon also rank among the top collecting areas each year.

Every pound matters to the food bank's partner agencies working across Oklahoma's 53 counties. For families facing hunger, that single can of vegetables or box of pasta makes the difference between eating and going without.

Ken Mayfield, president of Branch 458 of the National Association of Letter Carriers, has coordinated the local effort for years. He's watched communities with the deepest understanding of hunger become the most generous givers.

Turcotte takes pride in serving neighbors who give whatever they can, whether it's eight bags or one can, because they understand exactly who they're helping.

"Everything that you give makes a big difference because it's going to someone that may not have that at all," he said.