Thursday, May 16, 2024
Stamp Out Hunger is in the can
Across the nation, employees collected food for those in need
Postal Service employees across the nation collected food donations for their communities during this year’s Stamp Out Hunger drive, held May 11.
The National Association of Letter Carriers leads the annual event, with help from USPS and other organizations. Since its launch in 1993, Stamp Out Hunger has grown into the nation’s largest one-day food drive, with all donations going to local food banks and pantries.
“We always get so excited this time of year,” said Daryl Sexton, a Springfield, MO, carrier technician. “It feels so good to help these local families and to help keep the community strong. It’s an honor to be a part of it.”
Organizers are expected to report this year’s tally by mid-June. Many large communities are reporting thousands of pounds of food in donations.
“The sheer volume of food collected was overwhelming,” said Connor Patton, an Atlantic Area delivery support specialist who helped oversee volunteer efforts in Rochester, NH.
Preparations for Stamp Out Hunger begin weeks in advance. In Riviera Beach, FL, for example, the local Post Office helped get the word out early with a media day on April 30.
“Letter carriers are out in the neighborhoods every single day of the year — we see the communities, we see the struggle there,” Letter Carrier Jeff Wagner told the local ABC station.
The event also brings out former postal employees.
Retirees such as Jeff Weipert, who worked as a letter carrier in Warren, MI, said he enjoys meeting up with his former co-workers and offered a historical perspective on how far the drive has come.
The first drive was “hectic … we laid all the food out in a vacant parking lot for a local organization to come and pick it up. Now, after all these years, we have a plan and a great system to make every year the best food drive ever.”
May 23, 2024
Datebook
‘Medicare Basics’
Postal Service employees may participate in an upcoming webinar to learn more about Medicare, including how Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plans work with Medicare parts A and B.
The session, “Medicare Basics,” will be held Thursday, May 23, from noon to 1 p.m. Eastern.
Representatives from the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) will lead the discussion.
The APWU health plan is open to all eligible postal employees, and the session is not restricted to bargaining unit employees.
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 who have questions can email the USPS Benefits and Wellness team.
May 23, 2024
Datebook
‘Recharge for Good’
Postal Service employees may participate in an upcoming webinar on common causes of fatigue and how to recharge your batteries.
The session, “Recharge for Good: How to Overcome Fatigue,” will be held Thursday, May 23, from noon to 1 p.m. Eastern.
Representatives from the Virginia Hospital Center and Blue Cross Blue Shield, 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.
Atlantic Area, Michigan 2 District lead in scanning
A snapshot of Postal Service scanning data shows the national rating was 97.21 percent during the week ending May 10, down 0.29 percent from one week earlier.
The data was collected May 15.
Atlantic led the four areas with a rating of 97.55 percent, while Southern ranked last with a 96.47 percent rating.
Among the 50 districts, Michigan 2, part of Central Area, ranked first with a 98.44 percent rating, while Georgia, part of Southern Area, ranked last with a 93.14 percent rating.
Scanning data allows customers to track their mail and packages, which helps USPS deliver excellent service, boost loyalty and drive revenue.
To see the latest data, go to the Informed Visibility website and select “Customer Experience,” followed by “DES 2 Scan Performance.” Postal Service employees must request Informed Visibility access through eAccess.