A proclamation recognizing the National Association of Letter Carriers and the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive on May 10, 2014.
We do have two proclamations this evening by Councilman Lopez. Councilman Lopez, will you please read proclamation number 397? Thank you, Madam President. Proclamation number 397 series of 2014. This is recognizing the National Association of Letter Letter Carriers and the stamp out Hunger Food Drive on May 10th, 2014. Whereas on the second Saturday of May each year, our intrepid band of letter carriers fan out across the United States, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam and the District of Columbia, and carry out an important act of kindness. And. Whereas, on that day, the letter carriers not only deliver the mail, but they also collect food contributed by postal customers as part of the stamp out hunger campaign and drive that in the nation's largest one day food drive and this and distribute the donations to local food banks. A total of £1.3 billion over the past 21 years. And. Whereas, 22nd Stamp out of Hunger Drive will be on May 10th this year. And it is one example of how letter carriers make the difference in the communities they serve. And. WHEREAS, all food collected in Denver stays in Denver distributed by Food Bank of the Rockies, and greatly helps those in need within our community. Now, therefore, be it proclaimed by those by the Council, the city and county of Denver, Section one. Now, the City Council hereby recognizes and thanks the National Association of Letter Carriers. And each of our letter carriers for their hard work year round and for their commitment to stamp out a hunger food drive. Section two at the Clerk of the City and County of Denver Store Test and affix a seal of the city and county of Denver to this proclamation and a copy be transmitted to the National Association of Letter Carriers. Thank you. Councilman Lopez, your motion to adopt. I move that council proclamation number 397 series of 2014 be adopted. It has been moved and seconded. Comments by council. Councilman Lopez. Well, I can tell you that I don't expect very much opposition. I think a lot of folks like to receive their letters, but I do have to express that. I was contacted by a bunch of dogs out in the neighborhood and they're very displeased with this. They do not like the idea of postal carriers being good guys and good ladies who apologize in advance for a lot of those dogs on the west side and only about a foot tall, but they're fierce and they chase the letter carriers around. I got to say, most of the people who I have come to know that have not only been very fit and walk fast, but have been very courteous, have been letter carriers. And now that I think of it, some people in my life who are very significant are letter carriers. And they've always they've always been very impeccable with their time. They've been a lot of workers, and they've always been cheery. For some reason, I think that's because they walk around so much and they whistle and you see them around. And, you know, I know our letter to letter carriers that deliver our route and they're amazing people. They're really cool. And actually, the one thing I got to say about them is they are the eyes and ears of the neighborhood. They don't just deliver the mail, but they are a part of the neighborhood. They're a part of neighborhood life. They report, you know, danger when they see it. They report crime. There's been letter carriers that have disrupted bank robbery now bank robberies, house burglaries, things like that. We've had instances where people who had not answered their door in a long time because they are in an emergency and are unable to move, have been contacted by or the first time point of contact. And their I guess their life saving point of contact has been a letter a letter carrier. There's just a lot of honor in what they do. Anyway, if it wasn't for this campaign, it's really hard work. You know, we complain when it snows three feet of snow here in Denver or if it's a hot day or it's very cold. Those letter carriers are out there almost nonstop. For them to be doing this campaign and not only delivering that mail, not only come in to what they do on the job, but to be able to carry canned goods back to their trucks, back to their stations and back to the food bank from our houses. I think that's that's that you got to there's something very honorable in that. I think it's a lot of hard work to be able to do that. And it's a lot of commitment. And, you know, there's a lot of people that are still depending on food banks. And for some people, this is the only nutrition and the only food they'll get that they can afford. Many of them live in food deserts, and these food banks depend on drives like this. So. Madam President, I am very proud to carry this proclamation. I know the letter carriers. I think their local is in Council District three. Right. Right off our Christian shared. And I'm very proud of that. So. Madam President, I support this wholeheartedly. And I saw my colleagues join me and I would ask that folks at home on May 10th leave out some canned goods with their man with their mail. Thank you, Councilman Lopez. Councilwoman Kennish, I just wanted to say thank you for what you do. I love that it's. Often on Mother's Day weekend and. In particular, you know, we had a major federal cut to food stamps this year. And so the food bank demand is really increasing. It seems so counterintuitive. Our economy is getting better. But it's just not for folks whose wages haven't gone up. And so I just wanted to. Say thank you for. What you do. And I'm so excited. That my. Colleague, Mr. Lopez, proposed this and I appreciate his sponsorship of this. Thank you. Thank you, Councilwoman Monteiro. Thank you. I also wanted to say thank you and also to let you know that there's a big box in the building that I live in. And so now I'm going to go knock on everybody's door and get some food so that we can help contribute as well. But every day when I am either leaving or coming home, my timing is always just right with the letter carrier. And so just the idea that they're sitting there and they're always happy and. They're just whistling and just happy to be alive in and be able to do such a humble service for people is so heartwarming. So thank you very much. And I'll be supporting this proclamation. Thank you, Councilwoman. Councilman Nevitt. Thank you, Madam President. To quote from the letter carrier's credo, neither snow nor rain nor heat, nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds. That pretty much says it all. And they've been providing this service and we've been relying on them since the founding of the republic. So keep it up. Thank you, Councilman. Okay, Madam Secretary, roll call. Lopez Hi. Montero. Nevitt Hi. Rob. By Brooks Brown. I thought I finished Lehman. Hi, Nevitt. I again. Hope you're right. Madam President. I. Councilwoman Fox and Councilwoman Sheppard. Okay. Madam Secretary, close of voting. Announce the results. Tonight. Ten Eyes. The proclamation is adopted. Councilman Lopez, do you have somebody you'd like to call up to the podium? Yes, I would. I wanted to ask Cindy and she come up to the oh, then you can come as well to come up to the microphone and representing the National Association of Letter Carriers. Private army, an army of letter carriers. Go right ahead. Introduce yourself. My name is Cindy Kirby. I'm with the letter carriers and I have some great folks with me today. Introduce themselves individually, however you'd like to. You can introduce them or they can. Is Jasmine Lee Robles. Hello Jasmine I'm Kelly Robles and I'm I carry out of. Aurora Centennial a play. My name's Jeff Frye I carry out of Denver branch 47 and downtown where I think your box was put. Lovely. Thank you for being here. Kelly. Kelly is our statewide food drive coordinator and Jeff is our branch food coordinator. Both of them are new in their positions and they're doing a fantastic job this year. We're hoping we're doing more advertising to get more and more folks to be. Aware of the drives and remember to put the. Can. In the mailbox. Thank you. Thank you. It's nonperishable items. Nonperishable items. Okay. The canned food out $1 by £5 of food. Oh, my. That's a great. It's a very, very worthy cause. And it feeds a lot of kids that are just getting out of school where they have to rely on the school lunch programs for their meals and sometimes their only meal during the day. So this is critical for to stock the food that's during the summer months. Thank you for all you do for our neighborhoods. It just reminds me of Mr. Rogers. And was it Mr. Feely, who was the was speedy. Speedy delivery? Was speedy delivery or somebody and maybe he was on Sesame Street. But anyway, thank you so much for doing all this. It's really great to have you here. Thank you. Okay. We have another proclamation by none other than Councilman Lopez.