Brotherly Love: A Mailman's School Supply Drive
By Ukee Washington
WILMINGTON, Del., (CBS) -- A Delaware mailman, with the blessing of the U.S. Postal Service, is collecting for children he sees every day. To him, they're family.
Vandrick Hamlin Sr. has been delivering mail on Court Drive in Wilmington for more than 20 years. "I chit chat with the kids all the time," he said. He even brings them candy.
Vandrick knows that many of the parents here struggle to give their children the necessities.
"During the school months, they lack bookbags and supplies," he said. So Vandrick wants to deliver some help.
For the second year in a row, businesses along his route are collecting back-to-school supplies for Vandrick to deliver to students. One of his stops is Principal Financial Group, where they've collected stacks of binders, dozens of bookbags, and lots of other supplies.
Sara Hawks, senior marketing coordinator, said, "Everybody wanted to help, and they were sending backpacks and supplies down in bags, bags full."
Vandrick happily loads up his truck with as many as he can every day. He doesn't take money, just school supplies. Last year, he collected enough to help 600 students.
Vandrick said he's inspired by the memory of his son, Cameron, who was shot and killed in 2006.
"It made me feel a lot better doing things in my son's name," Vandrick said.
Like last year, the school supplies will be given away this weekend at a barbeque for the neighborhood. He hopes to distribute even more than last year.
"I think he's an example," Sara said. "I think we could have more people like this. If we did, our community would be great."
The school supply giveaway is this Sunday, August 23, so there's still time to help. You can drop off donations at the post office at 1500 Lancaster Avenue in Wilmington, DE. Or contact Vandrick through his Facebook page, www.facebook.com/vanandcinhamlin