Royal Mail thanks caring Elgin postie for first-class community efforts

[TrueBlueTerrier]

https://www.northern-scot.co.uk/news/ca ... ts-223322/

AN ELGIN postie has been recognised for delivering first-class service to the community throughout this year.

Jackie Wilson (26), of Elgin's Anderson Crescent, has earned praise from her Royal Mail bosses for her stand-out charitable efforts, particularly in the run-up to Christmas.

The caring postie has regularly gone that extra mile since the March lockdown to look out for her elderly customers, and this month ensured that some of the most lonely and frail would have a Christmas dinner. She then gave up some of her own Christmas Day to deliver meals.

She also ran a fundraiser at work, in conjunction with Elgin's Cadora diner, to boost MFR's Cash for Kids appeal, as well as collecting toys for the Northern Scot's Christmas Toy and Food Appeal run with Elgin's St Giles Centre.

Jackie, a postie for two years, was nominated for a Royal Mail "Christmas Star" award, by her Elgin-based boss, Seamus Connolly, for going above and beyond in the course of her job. Although she missed out on the title, she received a hand-written Christmas card from Royal Mail's north of Scotland boss in recognition of her efforts.

Jackie said: "During the lockdown I saw all these people stuck in their houses. Some of them didn't have anyone at all and some families were struggling so much.

"It made me realise I had it easy in a way – there I was out working as normal.


"I became friendly with a couple of the older customers, just stopping for 10 minutes for a blether through the window and checking how they were. It's little things like that that make a difference."

For one of her elderly customers, Jackie has been regularly ensuring that her electricity meter is topped up and pops out to pick up a few messages for her.

She also contacted Moray Community Christmas to ensure two of her customers would have a Christmas dinner. She then volunteered to help deliver meals to vulnerable people for the organisation.

Jackie's collection at work to boost MFR Cash for Kids raised £329.

As well as seeing up close how the pandemic has hit locals and being motivated to help through that, Jackie said a growing public appreciation of postal workers was also evident. On Jackie's rounds covering Lhanbryde, New Elgin, Bishopmill and Kingsmills, one little boy has been leaving out treat boxes filled with snacks and juice for his favourite postie.

Neil Owen, manager at Elgin Royal Mail delivery office, said: "We are all very proud of Jackie for what she has done for local charities, including baking cakes to raise funds and being out on Christmas Day delivering meals.

"We'd like to thank her for all her efforts in going above and beyond to help others."

In the week before Christmas Jackie and her colleagues started work at 3am each day to make sure people got their presents on time.

[renrag40]

Something to cherish........ a hand written Christmas card from Royal Mail’s north of Scotland boss in recognition of her efforts.