Monday, February 5, 2024
Calling all cupids
A nonprofit group encourages people to mail valentines to seniors
A national nonprofit organization is encouraging people to use the mail to help lift the spirits of older adults who might feel lonely on Valentine’s Day.
The Cupid Crew project is organized by Wish of a Lifetime, a charitable affiliate of AARP that grants life-changing wishes to people 65 and older.
Since 2014, the project has encouraged people to mail Valentine’s Day cards to isolated older adults in senior communities — a group that often feels even lonelier during holidays.
“So many older adults are overjoyed and surprised by receiving valentines because sadly, many might not see or hear from anyone on Valentine’s Day. The cards remind them how valuable and appreciated they are,” said Jared Bloomfield, the national field operations director for Wish of a Lifetime.
Those interested in participating can go to the Wish of a Lifetime website to download one or more Valentine’s Day cards that can then be mailed to a community for older adults.
Other organizations have similar goals.
For example, the nonprofit group Love for Our Elders works to combat isolation in senior communities by encouraging people to mail letters to residents.
Each year, the Postal Service releases a Love stamp that can be used for valentines and other mailings. The 2024 release shows a bird in flight.
Many Post Offices also carry greeting cards, including Valentine’s Day cards.
In addition to its greeting card drive, Wish of a Lifetime will organize the delivery of 170,000 roses to seniors on Feb. 14. The group relies on about 40,000 volunteers nationwide in its outreach efforts, according to Bloomfield.
He encourages anyone interested in mailing cards to older adults this Valentine’s Day to send them soon.
“One card makes a huge difference,” Bloomfield said.
Heroes
Right place, right time
This letter carrier prevented a customer with dementia from getting lost
Letter Carrier Enddel Villafañe was delivering mail in San Juan, PR, recently when he noticed an older customer leave her house and head toward a nearby school.
Villafañe sensed something was off, so he caught up with her not far from the school’s gate.
The woman was confused and insisted she lived in another town. The letter carrier asked a neighbor of hers to stay with her while he contacted local authorities for help.
They were able to get in touch with the woman’s daughter, who came and retrieved her.
It turned out the customer had senile dementia and Villafañe’s quick thinking prevented her from getting lost.
Employees featured in “Heroes” receive letters of commendation through the Postmaster General Heroes’ Program. The nomination form is available on Blue.
Learn more about Constance Baker Motley
A new video tells the story of this year’s Black Heritage stamp honoree
Constance Baker Motley’s achievements during the Civil Rights Movement are recalled in a new video from the Postal Service.
Motley, the first African American woman to argue a case before the U.S. Supreme Court and the first to serve as a federal judge, is the subject of this year’s Black Heritage stamp.
The eight-minute video features Joel Motley, her son; Constance Royster, her niece; Tomiko Brown-Nagin, dean of the Harvard Radcliffe Institute; Sherrilyn Ifill, a former president and director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund; Charly Palmer, the stamp artist; and Anton G. Hajjar, a member of the USPS Board of Governors who spoke at the recent stamp dedication ceremony.
Week in Review
Here’s what Link covered Jan. 28-Feb. 3
The Black Heritage stamp ceremony was one highlight
Link’s coverage of the Constance Baker Motley stamp dedication ceremony was a highlight of the past week.
Motley was the first African American woman to argue a case before the U.S. Supreme Court and the first to serve as a federal judge.
She is the subject of this year’s Black Heritage stamp.
“Judge Motley was a brilliant legal strategist who conquered adversities, helped dismantle legal segregation and served as a role model and mentor for those who followed in her footsteps. Her tireless work and unwavering dedication impacted nearly every touchpoint of the 20th-century Civil Rights Movement,” said Anton G. Hajjar, a member of the USPS Board of Governors who spoke at the ceremony.
We also told you about the establishment of a toll-free phone number for employees and managers seeking guidance on what actions to take in the event of an incident of alleged harassment, and we reminded you that the penalties are stiff for misusing USPS vehicles.
Additionally, Link went “On the Job” with Richard Morales, a Port Washington, NY, letter carrier, and “Off the Clock” with Christian Johnston, a Salt Lake City customer relations coordinator who performs in musicals throughout his native Utah.
Among the nuggets Morales shared: “People laugh, but I like to say that in life, all you need is a good hairstylist, a good mechanic and a good postal person.”
Who are we to argue?
February 12, 2024
Datebook
‘Keeping the Beat’
Postal Service employees may participate in an upcoming webinar on heart health, including risk factors, prevention strategies and lifestyle changes to promote better health.
The session, “Keeping the Beat: Your Heart, Your Health, Your Future,” will be held Monday, Feb. 12, from noon to 1 p.m. Eastern.
Representatives from GEHA, a provider of health plans for federal employees, will lead the discussion.
Participants must register before the event on the webinar website.
Participation is voluntary. Nonexempt employees must be off the clock or on authorized breaks.
Employees with questions can email the Benefits and Wellness team.
View past printouts
Printout details
What's included
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Calling all cupids
A nonprofit group encourages people to mail valentines to seniors
-
Heroes
Right place, right time
This letter carrier prevented a customer with dementia from getting lost
-
Learn more about Constance Baker Motley
A new video tells the story of this year’s Black Heritage stamp honoree
-
Week in Review
Here’s what Link covered Jan. 28-Feb. 3
The Black Heritage stamp ceremony was one highlight
-
February12Datebook
‘Keeping the Beat’