Postmaster Jason Braman, right, accepts a poster from Shepherdstown Shares board members Jan Hafer and Nancy Stewart at the Shepherdstown Post Office on Oct. 18. Courtesy photo

SHEPHERDSTOWN — On Oct. 18, the United States Postal Service (USPS) workers were recognized at Shepherdstown Post Office, for their dedication to the community and support of the Stamp Out Hunger campaign.

Representatives from Shepherdstown Shares presented $25 gift cards to each clerk and mail carrier, along with a collective gift of a poster, which has since been prominently displayed in the Shepherdstown Post Office’s full-service lobby.

“Stamp Out Hunger has been a program that USPS has participated in for the past 30 years. Specifically in Shepherdstown, I believe we have participated in the past six years,” said Jason Braman, who has served as the Shepherdstown Post Office Postmaster for the past seven years. “I believe Pam first came to me in 2017 about Stamp Out Hunger.

“Pam Donato, a retired city carrier, came to me when she first moved to Shepherdstown,” Braman said. “She asked if we would be willing to participate, and while this is typically a program for city carriers and not rural carriers, I believe in the good it has done and continues to do, so I agreed to participate with Pam’s assistance in coordinating.”

During the first year of the Stamp Out Hunger campaign being held in Shepherdstown, the Shepherdstown Post Office delivered letters alerting Shepherdstown residents of the campaign and then collected nonperishable food for local residents in need, which was left by the mailboxes of those on their routes who chose to participate in the campaign. This year’s Stamp Out Hunger campaign transitioned to a monetary donation format, through which funding was collected on the mail routes of Shepherdstown residents and then delivered to Shepherdstown Shares Food Pantry.

Shepherdstown's United States Postal Service clerks and letter carriers pose with Postmaster Jason Braman, during the Oct. 18 presentation ceremony at the post office. Courtesy photo

“The extra workload is very minimal to my carriers and clerks,” Braman said. “This program benefits so many families that are struggling, and with just a little bit of extra work from us, we can be a part of that and hopefully help someone who just needs a little boost. While most of us who work here at the Shepherdstown Post Office don’t live in Shepherdstown, we are a part of the community here and this program is one way we can show that we do care.”

When Shepherdstown Shares board members entered the post office to present their gifts of appreciation, Braman and his staff unexpectedly received their own “boost.”

“We were very surprised and appreciative that Shepherdstown Shares wanted to recognize us for our efforts,” Braman said.

According to Shepherdstown Shares Treasurer Mark Kohut, showing appreciation to Shepherdstown letter carriers and clerks for their work with this campaign was something that had been planned since the campaign was last held in May.

“We, Shepherdstown Shares, wanted to thank the letter carriers. This all comes through the Letter Carriers Union. It has to all be accepted by the post office that this is being done through. We want that relationship to continue every year, so we wanted to say thanks,” Kohut said, noting the $25 price on the MJ’s on German Deli Cafe gift cards was the limit to what the post office workers could legally accept. “We don’t spend anything, without getting board approval. We all voted on the $300 amount that would be required, to give every worker a $25 gift card. The executive committee decided on getting the gift cards for MJ’s, because we meet there for our meetings and it’s new in town.”