STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- United States Postal Service (USPS) letter carriers from New Dorp helped make a difference in the lives of some children this Christmas season.
The carriers used their personal time to collect money and toys, to donate them to families who are struggling.
From what started as a toy drive three years ago by letter carrier Lamont Scott, has turned into something bigger than he imagined, for 2020.
“Everyone gives toys out -- the police, the firemen, but as a mailman, we get to go to each and every house within our designated route and we get to know these families,” said Scott. “So, we know what’s going on, and whether they are a family who is in need of stuff during the holiday season.”
United States Postal Service letter carriers Lamont Scott and Konstantin Litvak helped to collect and donate to families and children in need for Christmas (Photo Courtesy of Konstantin Litvak).
If the children of the households are 11 years old and younger, Scott said he asks the parent to have the children write a letter to Santa and give it to him.
The difference, he pointed out with normal letters to Santa, is when they are addressed to the North Pole, he does not open them because they are sent to somewhere else that accepts them. When parents give the letters to Scott, he holds onto them for when it comes time to collect toys.
A lot of the toys are on the high-end, however, the carriers often try their best to do what they can with what they have for these children.
“Sometimes if it’s for a girl, we will give her another doll. And if it’s for a boy, maybe another remote control car,” said Scott.
USPS letter carriers Lamont Scott and Konstantin Litvak helped to collect and donate to families and children in need for Christmas
With some help from fellow carrier Konstantin Litvak, and other New Dorp carriers, they were able to deliver toys to children on Christmas Eve.
Litvak said he started to help Scott two years ago once he saw he was doing it for the right reasons.
“Not all of us deliver to the well off neighborhoods,” Litvak said. “Some of us deliver in places where families are down on their luck. Where Lamont delivers sometimes he sees these families who are down on their luck, and it definitely pulled at his heartstrings to do something about it.”
This year, the carriers delivered to 12 families including 21 children in total, who were excited to see the toys they asked for Christmas appear at their front door or under their tree.
United States Postal Service letter carriers Lamont Scott and Konstantin Litvak helped to collect and donate to families and children in need for Christmas (Photo Courtesy of Konstantin Litvak).
“We tell them Santa left us toys for them and we helped him to deliver it, and they get very happy. They don’t expect it and it is just a lot of happiness on their faces,” said Litvak.
Scott added the excitement on the children’s faces is something unbelievable.
“The reaction they give is different. Their eyes show they are in awe. We went to one family where there were four young children who were screaming when they saw us delivering the toys,” said Scott.
Scott pointed out one specific family they saved for last was not home during the delivery, so they left a note.
“We showed back up at 8 a.m. on Christmas and tiptoed while the kids were sleeping and placed the presents including three bikes under the tree. They opened their eyes as though they were in Christmas land. Today when I saw a few of them, they asked me, ‘How long have you worked for Santa?’” said Scott.
USPS letter carriers Lamont Scott and Konstantin Litvak helped to collect and donate to families and children in need for Christmas
This year the Christmas Drive was helped out by other postal stations including Tottenville and Great Kills. The National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 99 has also donated money, along with Tunnel To Towers Stephen Siller Foundation who joined in the donation of toys.
These postal carriers did not just deliver mail to families but delivered a Christmas for children who needed it.
“We do what we can. We donate our free time doing this. December is one of the busiest times for us, but on the free days that we are not working, we are answering the lists and make sure we get everything,” said Litvak.
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