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As federal employees, letter carriers can participate in the world’s largest annual workplace charitable giving program, the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC).
Pledges made by federal civilian, postal and military donors during the campaign season (Sept. 1 to Dec. 15) support eligible non-profit organizations through donations deducted voluntarily from their paychecks each pay period.
“The CFC is a wonderful way to help make the world a better place, a few dollars at a time,” NALC President Fredric Rolando said.
Carriers can choose a charity, or several, to support, and an amount they choose will be deducted from their paychecks and automatically sent to each charity.
“By giving automatically, a little each pay period, you probably won’t even notice the money coming out of your check,” Rolando added. “But the charities notice, because the steady support of millions of participants makes a big impact on their ability to help people and do good throughout the year.”
All letter carriers can participate in the CFC, and Rolando sent his annual reminder in August asking NALC members to contribute through the CFC in addition to the other ways they support the community.
“Each day, many of us encounter people enduring real life problems within the communities where we live and deliver the mail,” Rolando wrote. “Throughout the year, we help by collecting food, providing clothing, mentoring children and looking after those who are vulnerable. We must continue to be good citizens by involving ourselves in these and other community efforts. However, it does not end there. The Combined Federal Campaign allows us easy access to contribute to charities that we care about through payroll deductions.”
Rolando asked letter carriers to consider donating to three charities in particular: the Postal Employees’ Relief Fund (PERF), the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) and United Way Worldwide.
PERF provides financial support to postal employees whose homes are damaged or destroyed by natural disasters. The charity is run by the four postal employee unions and three management organizations, whose members support PERF through voluntary donations. PERF grants money to homeowners and renters alike to help with deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses that insurance claims don’t cover, and to assist with replacement of lost property and temporary housing. Information and applications for PERF assistance can be found on its website, postalrelief.com.
MDA is NALC’s official charity. It is the world’s leading non-profit health organization sponsoring research into the causes of, and effective treatments for, neuromuscular diseases. MDA research grants support more than 250 research projects worldwide, as well as camps and activities for children who have one of these
diseases. For more information, go to mdausa.org.
United Way Worldwide is the leadership and support organization for the network of nearly 1,800 community-based United Ways in 45 countries and territories. The United Way’s mission is to bring about a world where all individuals and families realize their human potential through education, income stability and health. For more information, go to unitedway.org.