Fed workers challenged
to share bounty

---

By Rod Antone
rantone@starbulletin.com

Some Oahu postal workers are asking fellow federal employees to donate some of their good fortune to those in need this Christmas.

The call for charity comes as a majority of Hawaii's 25,000 white-collar civilian employees received their share of a $90 million Cost of Living Allowance reimbursement this week.

"We're really fortunate to get this reimbursement," said Rudy Salazar, a National Association of Letter Carriers shop steward at Hawaii Kai Post Office. "We're just asking everyone who got a check to just make a $20 donation to somebody, show some aloha."

Salazar said the idea came from discussions he and other mail carriers in Hawaii Kai and Sand Island had on how to share a part of their reimbursement with the community.

To keep the donations at home, Salazar asks that federal employees give to the Aloha United Way or food bank on their islands.

"Everyone's been hit hard by 9/11. ... This is one way we can show the spirit of Christmas and the spirit of giving by helping others," he said.