USPS Operation Santa launches online catalog Santa's Gift Shoppe
The U.S. Postal Service announced the debut of an online e-commerce catalog to fulfill gifts: Santa's Gift Shoppe, an online option developed for USPS Operation Santa letter adopters, powered by Toys R Us.
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The online catalog of toys and gifts allows letter adopters to find something special for each letter writer, while the integration with shipping options from the postal service helps ensure gifts are affordable to ship and arrive in time for the holidays.
"USPS Operation Santa has connected communities through holiday goodwill for over a century," said Sheila Holman, USPS marketing VP. "This year, through our collaboration with Toys R Us, we're thrilled to bring an easier way for generous people to make a difference. With the launch of this new e-commerce platform, we're making it simpler than ever to help fulfill wishes and spread holiday joy."
Since its inception 112 years ago, USPS Operation Santa has enabled the public to adopt letters to Santa written by children and families. Supporters are invited to visit the official USPS Operation Santa website to browse letters and choose a child's wish to fulfill through Santa's Gift Shoppe.
"At Toys R Us, our mission is to bring joy to children, and what better way than to surprise them with gifts from Santa," said Gary Haas, VP of e-commerce at Toys R Us. "Through this new e-commerce platform, generous individuals can easily adopt a letter to Santa and help create magical moments for a new generation of Toys R Us kids."
Truck driver named TCA Highway Angel for helping driver of overturned vehicle
The Truckload Carriers Association has named truck driver Clifford Newa, from North Little Rock, Arkansas, a TCA Highway Angel for stopping to aid a woman who crashed her vehicle into a ditch in the middle of the night. Newa works for ABF Freight out of Ft. Smith, Arkansas.
On October 20, 2024 around 3:15 a.m., Newa was traveling on Interstate 40 in Cromwell, Oklahoma, when he noticed a car in the ditch with its hazard lights on.
“A woman passed me in a black BMW, and several minutes later, it’s upside down in a ditch,” Newa said. “I was the first one there, so I pulled over.”
A retired Air Force Master Sergeant with 20 years of military service as well as a volunteer firefighter, Newa has extensive medical training for such emergencies. When he got to the crashed vehicle, he found the motorist was alive and on the phone with her mother.
“There was not a scratch on this lady,” he said.
She had not called 911, so Newa called. He then took off his jacket to give to the motorist since she wasn’t dressed for the cold. Then, he got her to stand up so he could evaluate any injuries, but he found none. He stayed with the motorist until the emergency personnel arrived.
“I was taught to help people,” Newa said. “With 20 years in the military, it doesn’t matter where you’re at or what situation you have, I was raised to help people.”
DHL and partners provide 2M meals in “Race to End Hunger”
DHL Express and the 2024 “Race to End Hunger” partners donated two million meals to Feeding America and the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, bringing the program’s five-year total to 11 million meals. With some 49 million people in the U.S. currently experiencing food insecurity, DHL Express, Kalitta Air, and Kalitta Motorsports united their efforts in the “Race to End Hunger.” The initiative provides critical hunger relief for families in need, both during the upcoming holiday season and beyond.
This year, DHL expanded its internal campaign, giving employees the option to also donate through its DHL online retail store purchases, with proceeds benefiting Feeding America. Combined with DHL’s corporate match of employee donations and its contribution to the “Race to End Hunger” partner program with Kalitta, the company’s total contribution reached 1.25 million meals.
The other 750,000 meals were generated by DHL’s National Hot Rod Association relationships. Two years ago, DHL supercharged its efforts by partnering with Kalitta Motorsports and Kalitta Air to fight food insecurity nationwide, through the “Race to End Hunger.” This year, additional Kalitta partners joined the program, which generated even more meals. Over three years of the campaign, 2.75 million meals were donated to Feeding America and its network of food banks.
“No one should have to worry about where their next meal will come from, and we are committed to doing our part to help,” said Nemer Abohasen, VP and general manager at DHL Express and head of U.S. social responsibility. “It has been deeply rewarding to collaborate with our long-time partners, Kalitta Air and Kalitta Motorsports, as well as our new partners this year, all of whom share our dedication to addressing the critical issue of food insecurity that affects millions across our country. Our 'Race To End Hunger' partners are all strong advocates of our mission, and the impact in the communities we live in continues to be significant.”
See also: How Wreaths Across America works with trucking to honor veterans
Transervice employees support literacy in New York with donations to book fairies
Employees of Transervice Logistics Inc. broke their in-house record, donating books, CDs, DVDs, and magazines to Book Fairies, the largest nonprofit book donation organization in the Tri-State area. The materials are being redistributed to under-resourced communities on Long Island and the five boroughs of New York City lacking equal access to books.
This was the sixth consecutive year Transervice partnered with the organization, contributing thousands of print and video assets to help provide equitable opportunities for children to learn, grow, and thrive.
“Book Fairies continues to be a favorite community outreach program for Transervice employees in our New York corporate office,” said Sean Schnipper, director of marketing. “This year they outdid themselves, filling over 13 boxes with much-needed resources for combatting illiteracy in our local community.”
Goodyear, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve to host annual Toys for Tots events
For the 14th consecutive year, Goodyear will host toy drives at its Blimp bases in Ohio, Florida, and California, in partnership with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. These events offer an opportunity for the public to contribute to the Marines Toys for Tots Foundation.
From December 6 to 8, Ohio residents can drive through the Wingfoot Lake Blimp hangar from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. for a behind-the-scenes look before dropping off their donation to a U.S. Marine representing Toys for Tots. In Florida, the event will be held on December 7, with open house tours of the hangar from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The California event will take place on December 6, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., and on December 7, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
"Team Goodyear is so proud of our 14-year collaboration with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve and the Toys for Tots Program,” said Laura Duda, Goodyear’s SVP and chief communications officer. “Toys for Tots has such a positive impact on the lives of children during the holiday season, and it's also a way for us to share the magic of the Goodyear Blimp with our local communities.”
Over the past 14 years, toy drives at the Blimp bases have delivered over 252,000 toys and raised $664,000 to benefit the Marine Toys for Tots Program.
