[nfbmi-talk] blind activism in iowa

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Blind Postal Customers Rally To Save Post Office

 

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Posted:Nov 17, 2011 6:39 PM EST Updated:Nov 17, 2011 8:39 PM EST

 

by James Swierzbin

 

JSwierzbin at myabc5.com

 

In a little more than a month, a downtown Des Moines post office is scheduled to become the latest casualty of the U.S. Postal Service's money problems.

 

But now a local chapter of the National Federation of the Blind is leading the charge to try and keep it from closing down.

 

The Capitol Square Post Office is used by many of the 60 members of the Des Moines chapter of the National Federation of the Blind.

 

And they say it's closing would make their everyday lives harder.

 

"Why close an office that is so convenient for so many people?" said one chapter member Peggy Chong.

 

It's a question that Peggy Chong has been asking ever since reports of the Capitol Square Post Office's closing first surfaced.

 

Chong is just one of the many blind people who rely on the Capitol Square Post Office's many services.

 

"It hits us more intensely because we have to make other arrangements in order to get our stuff done. It's not just as easy as turning the car and going

down the street in a different direction, we have to make very different arrangement," said Chong.

 

Post office boxes in particular are important to the blind folks who frequent this particular postal location.

 

Chong says many of her blind friends who live downtown have post office boxes to ensure their mail isn't tampered with.

 

She's afraid that taking this post office offline could be devastating to the ability of many blind people to function independently.

 

But she's optimistic that the post office can be saved, if enough people support it.

 

"It's not a done deal, this post office can remain open if we in the community all rally together and say how important it is to have it in the downtown

area," said Chong.

 

The Des Moines chapter of the National Federation of the Blind is planning a rally next Monday, in order to try and stop the Capitol Square Post Office

from closing on December 26th.

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