I have been a mail carrier for 25 years. I would like to thank all the kind folks who gave me help or encouragement as I struggled along in the recent bad snows.

It’s a shame that our own VMF (vehicle maintenance facility) doesn’t care if we get stuck or not. My mail truck arrived back from servicing on the day after Christmas — missing my snow shovel.

Apparently anything not nailed down gets stolen at the VMF. When I complained, I was told, “You should know better than to leave anything inside.”

They even stole a hand towel I used to clean the exterior mirrors, and a township map I used to help lost motorists.

Most employers have trouble with employee theft. Here at the post office, we have a serious problem that’s even worse. Stealing a snow shovel from a mailman on the eve of a snowstorm is almost like taking a cane from a blind man.

This is the kind of support we get from our maintenance facility.

So, if people see us digging ourselves out with our hands, they should be sympathetic. We’re doing the best we can with what we don’t have.