Clif Knight

Hartselle Enquirer

U.S. Postal Service employees in Hartselle are showing the color of pink this month as they promote the funding of breast cancer research through the sale of pink breast cancer postal stamps.

“The Power of Pink” yard signs popped up on the post office grounds on the first day of the month. Later, customers were reminded of the availability of breast cancer stamps as they stepped through the door and faced a gaily-decorated pink wall. Pink T-shirts worn by the clerks also reinforced the message to buy pink stamps with the words: Fight. Pray. Live. Survive.

The Post Office’s approximately 35 employees compete with other level 18-20 post offices in Alabama to see who can sell the most breast cancer stamps during the month. They finished first in their category four of the past five years, losing only to Arab last year.

We’re working had to win again this year but we’re behind now,” said employee  Janna Martin. “We really need the help of our customers so we can catch up and win.”

“I’m really proud of our employees,” said supervisor Lisa Hefner. “Everything that’s being done to promote breast cancer stamp sales  is coming out of their own pockets.”

The post office is hosting a public reception in the lobby on Fri., Oct. 16, from 10 to 12 noon. Pink lemonade and cookies will be served. Morgan County Sheriff Ana Franklin will be a special guest.  Her pink patrol car will also be on display..

A breast cancer stamp costs 60 cents or $12 per book and covers the cost of first class postage. The 11 cents difference between it and a regular 49 cents first class stamp all goes to breast cancer research. By law, 70 percent of the 11 cents raised goes to the National Institutes of Health and 30 per cent goes to the Medical Research Program at the Department of Defense.

The stamp was issued at the White House on July 29, 1998, and features artwork of a mythical “Goddess of the Hunt” by Whitney Sherman of Baltimore, To date, the stamp has raised more than $80.9 million for breast cancer research