Stories from the frontlines: Letter Carriers who serve Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties

For Letter Carrier Tommy Rivera, participating in the annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive has been a natural progression of the philanthropic spirit that he says he learned from his dad.

“My dad used to work with the St. Vincent de Paul’s society and was in charge of the Thanksgiving food hand out at our local parish,” says Rivera. “During the rest of the year he always ran a pantry where people could come get a full box of food. I am really proud of my dad for the work he did helping people.”

Tommy has been a letter carrier for 18 years. He services the Westgate area of San Jose and has actively taken part in the Letter Carriers’ Drive his entire career.

“People on my route are very supportive of the drive, but I have noticed the last few years the donations were low,” says Rivera. “This year we are really promoting it and talking it up with our customers because the need right now is so high in the community and the food we collect really makes difference.”

Although the drive creates extra work for Rivera and his fellow Letter Carriers’, he says they do not mind.

“We do a barbeque in the back lot and make it into an exciting, fun day. Even though we are working harder we know it is a good thing to do and we give our customers a chance to help out.”

Referring to the extra weight he lugs on the day of the drive, Rivera says “It’s not heavy, it’s for the hungry.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rosie Laauli has worked as a Letter Carriers’ Drive coordinator since she first started servicing her Campbell-based route eight years ago.

“I like to get involved in things that revolve around giving,” she says. “Giving is important.”

Laauli knows that the non-perishable donations she and her fellow letter carriers collect are especially important this year, so they are doing their part to make sure customers on their routes know about the drive.

“Our union had t-shirts printed that we could purchase for $10, “ she says. “Most of us bought them and we will be wearing them the week before the drive to advertise as we go about delivering mail.”

In addition, the USPS printed promotional cards that the letter carriers put in the customer’s mailboxes.

“I want to thank all letter carriers for participating in this drive,” says Laauli. “Without everyone’s help it would not be possible to collect the donations. We all feel it is a privilege and an honor to get to not just do our jobs but to give back to our community.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For 22 years, letter carrier Jas Nijar has spent one Saturday each May picking up donations left for him as part of the national drive to collect food for people in need in our communities.

“I don’t mind the extra work,” he says. “I just want to go out and do something for the community and this makes me feel good.”

Nijar is optimistic about this year’s drive citing the fact that many people on his route are already asking him about it.

“I think people know the need is great in the community so they really want to make sure they participate,” Nijar says. “There are a lot of generous people out there.”


MEDIA CONTACT:
Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties
Lynn Crocker: (408) 694-0044 lcrocker@shfoodbank.com
http://www.secondharvestfood.org