Around this time last year, residents of a Fort Lauderdale
neighborhood in Florida received an interesting letter in the mail.
Seemingly from the post office, the letter told the
residents to invest in curbside
mailboxes and abandon the mailboxes that they currently owned that were
located by the door. The letter also stated that this had to be accomplished
within the next 30 days—but the letter was undated.
Some of the neighborhood residents followed the information
on this letter, while others were skeptical. The letter had no official
letterhead and contained misspellings.
Although this letter turned out to be junk mail, it serves a
good point: curbside mailboxes truly help to make the lives of mailmen
and mailwomen a little easier. It doesn’t hurt the community, either.
The letter was sent during Mailbox Improvement Week, which
encourages residents to repair any mailbox defects. Mailbox Improvement Week
occurs during the third full week of May and is a way to inspire a bit of
spring cleaning. Because of the winter season, mailboxes can experience a lot
of wear and tear, such as rusting and peeling paint. Additionally, mailboxes
can experience loose hinges or lost house numbers. This can be a potential risk
for homeowners and for anyone who delivers the mail.
Strangely enough, a letter of this sort was recently sent to
residents in an Omaha, Nebraska neighborhood as well. Much like the residents
in Fort Lauderdale, some people rebelled against this while others obeyed the
law in order to avoid a penalty or fine. However, residents were informed that
these letters were just a suggestion and not an order.
Curbside mailboxes not only improve the appearance of a
community, but they make it easier for postal workers to deliver mail. During
inclement weather, mailmen and mailwomen don’t have to risk the chance of
slipping on ice or injuring themselves by walking up to a household’s installed
mailbox.
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