It’s well known that “snow, rain, heat, or gloom of night” can keep mail couriers from completing their duties. But one California post office won’t let yet another obstacle stand in its way: lack of funding.
You see, the San Pedro post office doesn't pay its employees, and-- more amazingly --they don't even want to be paid.
Instead, the post office is staffed entirely by volunteers, and according to the San Pedro city website, it has been since 1966.
"I took an early retirement, and I thought, 'Well, what am I gonna do with the rest of my time?'" Marsha Hebert, a volunteer, told CNN. " I looked at the Post Office, and I thought, 'that's for me!' because you interface with the public, and I also say it staves away Alzheimer's, because you have to be thinking all the time."
What Hebert doesn't mention is that the volunteers, all members of the San Pedro Assistance League, not only benefit people in need of mail services, but contribute to a whole range of other philanthropic efforts as well.
"All the money [generated by the volunteer post office] all goes to charity," proudly explained the San Pedro Postmaster, Teddie Rebollido. "These women do it all out of the goodness of their heart."
And their contributions aren't exactly small coin, either. Last year, all of the San Pedro Assistance League's efforts combined (including some activities not related to the post office) gave just under $700,000 back to the community.
The San Pedro volunteer post office is the only one of its kind in the nation, writes the DailyBreeze.com.