A mail processing clerk in Austin, TX, answered the call to help people affected by the recent flooding in the state’s Hill Country region in July.
Nathanael Myers volunteered with a disaster response unit operated by Texas-based supermarket chain H-E-B to serve meals to those affected by the flooding.
Myers also worked with volunteers from the Wichita Falls Fire Department and Texas Search and Rescue as these organizations came together to assist the community.
For Myers, the opportunity to volunteer was an extension of his commitment to service.
“I was motivated to serve the area which has had a lot of flooding. I saw that H-E-B was asking for people to volunteer, so I just decided to help them out on my day off. I really enjoy volunteering,” Myers said.
Heavy rains caused water to surge over the banks of the Guadalupe River, damaging hundreds of homes and businesses in Kerr County. A year ago, flooding during the July 4 weekend made national headlines and completely washed away the Hunt, TX, Post Office.
“Nate is a humble soul, and he does his best to do his postal job. I’m proud to see him out there helping,” said Bobby Rodriguez, Myers’ supervisor.
She’s a lifesaver
An Arizona mother and infant are fortunate to have needed to mail a package one day last July.
Kylie Vega walked into the Clifton, AZ, Post Office with her infant daughter, Nova, when the child suddenly became unresponsive. That’s when Retail Associate Mary Schwarz, who worked as a nurse for 13 years before joining USPS, rushed to help.
“There was no thinking. I just jumped into action,” Schwarz told a local news station.
Unable to feel a pulse, Schwarz began CPR and tried to clear the 8-month-old’s airway.
A police officer responding to a 911 call quickly arrived and took the employee and infant to a nearby medical clinic. Nova began to breathe on her own while on the way to the clinic where medical professionals took over her care.
For Schwarz, the experience is a reminder of why CPR training is so important.
“If you’re a homeowner and have a pool or there’s a choking incident with a child or a family member — It’s so important to have some kind of training to know what to do in that situation,” she said.
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