Good morning! Good news!
Local mail carrier Jessica Stitzel and her family will welcome a new baby boy or girl in the upcoming weeks, and their new addition also is receiving heartfelt greetings from one of the communities that Stitzel serves along her daily mail route.
Friday, residents of Long Island at Indian Lake collaborated for a “virtual” baby shower to show their gratefulness for their postal worker’s essential service, especially amid the coronavirus pandemic.
For the celebration, between 20 to 25 houses in the area left up their mailbox flags to present Stitzel with personal gifts and cards. Some residents also decorated their mailboxes with bows, ribbons and posters to offer their congratulations, Long Island resident Amy Cartwright related.
“There was so much joy in watching it all unfold,” said Cartwright, who helped to plan the surprise. “ It was pretty remarkable to see everyone’s kindness.”
“Another of the many positive stories that we find in these unusual, different times,” fellow resident Pat Wax said. “It’s the story of a community just wanting to take the time to thank an everyday ‘hero.’”
Long Island community members said Ginger Swope made the suggestion to have the surprise baby shower for Stitzel, and the message was spread from neighbor to neighbor by text messages and e-mails leading up to the celebratory day.
Russells Point Postmaster Evie Rinehart, whose post office manages five locations in the area, said Stitzel has worked for the postal service for about eight years, and her co-workers were delighted to hear about the surprise received during her work day.
“She is a good employee, and her customers really enjoy her. So we were very happy for her, and also want to wish her and her family all the best.”
Rinehart said the new arrival will be Stitzel’s third child. While the infant has a June due date, Stitzel’s doctors are predicting a slightly earlier arrival toward the end of May.