Inspired to give back: How some community members are stepping up this holiday season

NOW: Inspired to give back: How some community members are stepping up this holiday season
NEXT:

MILWAUKEE (CBS58) -- After a Milwaukee mail carrier was killed on his route, the community rallied behind postal workers, and one woman was inspired to go above and beyond.

"I just saw he was a happy person, a joyful person, and that reminded me of me on the job," Owner of Mercedes Kitchen Mercedes Brown said about 44-year-old Aundre Cross.

Cross, a USPS employee for 18 years, was shot and killed last Friday. His death shocked the community and sounded the alarm to help those impacted by this tragedy.

"I really don't see a lot going on with giving back to the mail carriers, so I did a giveaway in which I made plates, and I gave them away," Brown said.

Along with plates of food, Brown and her close friend Charese Turner, owner of a BlingDivazCustomz, made personalized buttons with Cross's face on them.

"When Mercedes said she was doing free meals, I said, 'What can I do? How can I contribute?'," Turner said. "I made buttons for the mail carriers who personally knew this man and adored him. I had friends that I didn't know knew him and relatives that knew him too."

Brown said the stories from the postal workers who stopped by for the food donation touched her.

"They don't feel appreciated sometimes for their hard work. By me doing that, I just felt like, 'Oh my god, that was amazing'," she said.

For those who knew and worked with Cross, the efforts of these two women helped them during this extremely difficult time.

"That is helping us get through this a little bit better. It's still hard, but it's helping us to have that community support," USPS Clerk Tarsha McClain said.

The smiles on the faces of the postal workers have inspired Brown to keep helping the community.

"I'm going to always continue to give back," she said.

Another food donation for postal workers is currently in the works.

"Them coming off long hours, and coming to get a hot meal, that was a blessing to them. I know it was, and I was happy to bless them," Brown said.

Right now, to continue giving back to the community, Mercedes Kitchen and BlingDivazCustomz are holding a clothing and toy drive to help children who recently lost their mother in car crash. You can drop off donations at 5022 West Hampton.

Share this article: