GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The United State Postal Service is asking for your help keeping sidewalks, stairs, and mailboxes clear.
FOX 17 followed around one mail carrier, who explained that doing so will help keep your deliveries on time and ensure everyone’s safety.
Navigating West Michigan winter is nothing new for mail carrier Rusty Bussler.
“I’ve been working for the USPS for about 32-and-a-half years,” he said.
Even with all of that experience, Bussler said they he and his fellow carriers could use some help this winter.
He said, “It’s really nice when customers come out and plow paths for us.”
The USPS is asking for customers to help out clearing and salting paths leading up to your door, your stairs, the sidewalks, even shoveling around your mailbox to help carriers reach them from their vehicles.
As Bussler explained, these measures aren’t just to keep them safe, but you too.
“I had a customer who had real slick stairs and she stepped out of her house and went right on her back,” he recalled.
As West Michiganders know, Mother Nature doesn’t mess around when it comes to snow, ice and cold.
SEE MORE: MSP offers tips for preparing for winter storms
Bussler said, “It whoops you out, you get real tired by the end of the day. It’s a real good hard days worth of work.”
Bussler said they appreciate all of their customers who help them out year round, but especially right now.
He said, “I understand life is busy and everyone has a lot of things going on, but that would help us out big time.”
Keep in mind that if your mailbox happens to get knocked over from a snowplow, USPS will hold your mail until you can replace it. It is also the homeowner's responsibility to cover the costs of replacement.
SEE MORE COLD WEATHER TIPS: De-icing your car
