Willow Glen Resident
News
Photograph by Vicki Thompson
Deliver the Message: Debbie Madsen lives in Willow Glen and is a letter carrier for the U.S. Post Office branch in Willow Glen. On May 12, she will pick up food donations along her route.
Madsen collects food donations
By Tiffany Carney
Willow Glen resident Debbie Madsen walks 12 miles every single day, but she doesn't do it for the exercise. She has made a career out of walking. Madsen has been a letter carrier for the Willow Glen branch of the U.S. Post Office for 22 years.
Every day Madsen walks with her pushcart on her Willow Glen route, where she delivers mail along Lincoln Avenue, and residential areas between Pine Avenue and Malone Road.
Over two decades she has built strong ties with many of her regulars along the route, so much so that in 2002 and 2004 she was voted best letter carrier in Willow Glen.
"It was a survey in the paper and my postal patrons voted for me," says Madsen.
She gets invited to block parties and feels like an integral part of the community.
"I enjoy interacting with the patrons, I enjoy being outdoors, and I enjoy the Willow Glen community," Madsen says.
Once a year she does more than just deliver the mail; she also picks up bags of food, as part of the annual letter carrier food drive.
Madsen has been a part of the food drive since its inception in 1987.
"Second Harvest supplies get low at this time of year, so it is really important for us to get involved," Madsen says.
Every carrier has a different route and a different plan of action.
"I put extra postal satchels on my push cart so I am able to pick up the food and put it in the push cart when I deliver the mail," says Madsen, who has never considered the food drive extra work, even though she is pushing bags of food along with her mail.
At the end of the day, after the letter carriers collect the food and their route is done, they enjoy a potluck-style barbecue. The post office organizes the barbecue to show appreciation for the hard work above their daily job duties.
