Coronavirus: Ohio mailman delivers essential items to customers

COLERAIN TOWNSHIP, Ohio — An Ohio postal worker is delivering in a big way for people on his mail route.

Kyle West, known as “Mailman Kyle” to residents of Colerain Township, has been delivering more than pieces of mail during the coronavirus pandemic. He is also bringing residents milk and toilet paper to elderly people on his route, WCPO reported.

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West recently put out about 450 notes in his customers’ mailboxes, offering to help them obtain essential items, WXIX reported.

“I’ve gotten a lot of feedback from it,” West told the television station. “I didn’t do it to receive anything myself. I just did it to help my customers and it’s definitely working.”

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West said he got the idea when one person along his route made a request.

“My favorite guy came out and asked me if I could please get him toilet paper," West told WCPO. "From then I realized that some people just can’t do it themselves.

“Seeing a lot of my customers putting on suits to just go get stamps I figured if I’m already there, it won’t hurt me to bring what they need."

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Bonne Steinlage, a Franciscan Sister of the Poor, is one of West’s customers. She said she was floored by West’s note.

“I was just like, ‘Wow!’” Steinlage told WXIX. “This is so nice for people that can’t get around, and if I was stuck I wouldn’t hesitate to call him, because he’s so genuinely kind and sincere.”

Steinlage did not need any essentials, but she left West something essentially sweet -- cookies and brownies, the television station reported.

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West has also delivered milk to customers, and he said he stills enjoys chatting with them, even during this era of social distancing.

“It’s hard for us as well not being able to talk to our customers because that’s one of the big parts of our day, being able to see all of our favorite people,” West told WCPO. “A lot of people don’t have family and people to help them through this. And a lot of people’s favorite person is the mailman."

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