Friday, August 28, 2026
Primers
These stamps do double duty
Semipostals send letters and raise money for worthy causes
The Postal Service sells several First-Class Mail stamps — called semipostal stamps — at a price higher than the standard 1-ounce letter rate to help raise money for causes in the national interest.
The current price of a semipostal stamp is $1.
USPS has issued six semipostal stamps since 1998 and currently sells four of them — with another one to be issued later this year.
Breast Cancer Research
The Breast Cancer Research stamp — the first semipostal issued by the Postal Service — was released July 29, 1998. Sales from this stamp support the breast cancer research work of the National Institutes of Health and the Defense Department’s medical research program.
More than 1.1 billion of these semipostal stamps have been sold, totaling more than $99 million in funding for a cure.
Heroes of 2001
The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks spurred the release of the Heroes of 2001 semipostal stamp on June 7, 2002. The stamp features a photograph of three firefighters raising the American flag amid the rubble of the World Trade Center in New York City.
This stamp was sold through 2024 and raised $10.5 million for the families of emergency workers killed or injured in connection with the attacks.
Stop Family Violence
The Stamp Out Domestic Violence Act of 2001 called for a semipostal stamp recognizing the importance of raising awareness about family violence. The Stop Family Violence stamp, which was sold from 2003 through 2006, highlighted an image of a “sad mommy” drawn by a young child.
More than $3 million in proceeds from sales of the stamp supported domestic violence programs offered through the Department of Health and Human Services.
Save Vanishing Species
Issued in 2001, the Save Vanishing Species semipostal stamp has raised more than $8.8 million for the Multinational Species Conservation Fund managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, on sales of 74 million.
The Postal Service promotes sales of this stamp in November.
Alzheimer’s
Based on the design of the 2008 Alzheimer’s Awareness stamp, the Alzheimer’s semipostal stamp was issued in 2017 to support research of the most common form of dementia.
Sales of 13 million stamps have raised more than $1.7 million for research and treatment of the disease at the National Institutes of Health.
The Postal Service promotes sales of this stamp in September.
Healing PTSD
The Healing PTSD semipostal stamp was issued in 2019.
Sales of more than 30 million stamps have raised more than $2 million for the Department of Veterans Affairs to treat those suffering from the disorder.
The Postal Service promotes sales of this stamp in December.
Know the Fact About Fentanyl
USPS recently announced Know the Facts About Fentanyl, a new semipostal stamp to be released Oct. 6.
Sales of this stamp will raise money for the National Institute on Drug Abuse — the world’s largest funder of substance use and addiction research.
The Alzheimer’s, Breast Cancer Research, Healing PTSD and Save Vanishing Species semipostal stamps are available at Post Offices and on usps.com.
“Primers,” a Postal Service explanatory column, appears occasionally in Link.
People
Pillars of their communities
Employees speak about their jobs at career day and others receive praise for doing theirs
Los Angeles area Post Offices employees attended a recent career day at Wisdom Elementary School to share what it means to them to be a Postal Service employee.
Customer Services Manager Lanita Smith and letter carriers Donald “Coach” Robinson and Eduardo Garcia shared their insights with students and staff about the rewards of working for USPS.
The occasion also turned into an opportunity to promote dog-bite awareness. Robinson and Garcia reminded students to think about carrier safety during mail delivery, especially when there is a dog in the home.
“Career day is a very important day. It gives me the opportunity to tell young people about the winning team at USPS. I also get to tell students about dog bite awareness to help protect letter carriers while children are on summer break,” Robinson said.
Garcia added: “Events like this make me proud to work for the USPS as we take part in the community, and I get to share my experience with the children.”
A rescue is rewarded in Missouri
Letter Carrier Deanna Chatman recently received a “Champion of Missouri” award, an honor created two years ago by U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt to recognize heroic actions, community service and extraordinary accomplishments in the state.
Chatman was delivering mail in St. Louis last December when she came to the aid of a 96-year-old who had fallen in the snow by her mailbox. The customer was shivering, had no shoes and had been unable to move for three hours. Chatman called 911 and waited with the woman until help arrived.
During the presentation ceremony, Bradley Green, Schmitt’s state director, praised the employee’s actions.
“Ms. Chatman has shown us what it means to serve with both dedication and heart while delivering mail in the St. Louis community. Her selfless actions remind us that true heroes are often found in the simple act of answering a call for help and being the one who can answer that call,” Green said.
“I was just at the right place at the right time,” Chatman said.
NJ retail associate receives Rotary award
Stephanie Strang, lead retail associate at the South Vineland, NJ, Post Office has made quite an impression on the community she serves.
The Vineland Rotary Club, a local branch of global service group Rotary International, recently honored Strang with its Community Hero Award.
According to the chapter’s award announcement, Strang was recognized for her dedication to serving the community and is described as “a bright light at the Post Office.”
“People” appears regularly in Link. Got news to share? Email us.
News Quiz
When a drive doesn’t jive
How much do you know about ethics rules governing USPS vehicles?
“News Quiz” is a weekly feature that lets you test your knowledge of recent Link stories. The correct answers appear at the end.
1. Employees are prohibited from using a Postal Service vehicle for which of the following activities?
a) Commuting between home and work
b) Driving to unofficial destinations
c) Running personal errands
d) All of the above
2. What is New England author Sarah Orne Jewett’s best-known novel?
a) “Eight Seasons”
b) “Red Coats at Dawn”
c) “The Country of the Pointed Firs”
d) “Turning the Rocky Soil”
3. What did Office of Inspector General special agents discover about a Miami letter carrier that turned a workers’ compensation case into something much bigger?
a) The carrier had a previous felony conviction for bank fraud.
b) The carrier posted disturbing photographs on Instagram.
c) The carrier received a $20,000 Paycheck Protection Program loan.
d) The carrier wore her USPS uniform when purchasing illegal painkillers.
4. What did Clifton, AZ, Retail Associate Mary Schwarz do when a customer’s infant daughter became unresponsive in the Post Office lobby?
a) She administered CPR to the child.
b) She comforted the distraught mother.
c) She dialed 911 to request assistance.
d) She drove the child to the hospital.
5. How did USPS Tractor-Trailer Operator Philip Abella help after witnessing a multi-vehicle accident on a nearby freeway?
a) He called the wife of one of the drivers to tell her everything was OK.
b) He directed traffic until police officers could reach the scene.
c) He ensured the drivers’ safety until emergency responders arrived.
d) He pulled one of the drivers out of an overturned vehicle.
Answers: 1) d. 2) c. 3) c. 4) a. 5) c.
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What's included
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Primers
These stamps do double duty
Semipostals send letters and raise money for worthy causes
-
People
Pillars of their communities
Employees speak about their jobs at career day and others receive praise for doing theirs
-
News Quiz
When a drive doesn’t jive
How much do you know about ethics rules governing USPS vehicles?