“He’s the best clerk, efficient and so friendly,” whispered a customer, speaking of Glen Echo, MD, Retail Associate Tony Banks. Glen Echo Postmaster Yvonne Harrison concurred. “He’s my backbone,” she said.

Lately, Banks has been the backbone for others. The retail associate came to a customer’s rescue during a severe snow storm that paralyzed the region.

Banks arrived at work after his 20-mile bus commute. Later that morning, a customer needed help with her snow-stuck car. Banks rolled up his sleeves, grabbed a shovel and gave up his lunch hour. That’s how long it took to free the car from winter’s snowy grip.

Word of his good deed spread through the neighborhood. “People brought us coffee,” said Harrison. “They gave us a BBQ and ribs dinner with potato salad and cornbread — all because of what Tony did.”

Then, John Kelly, a writer for The Washington Post, caught wind of Banks’ good deed. In a Feb. 19 column, he wrote, “No one has improved on the Golden Rule: Treat others the way you would like to be treated. This is actually a wonderfully flexible philosophy, for it takes into account our own mind-sets and behaviors…Tony came out in his coat and hat…he worked tirelessly….”

“He goes far above and beyond to help,” said Harrison. “He’s always that way.”

via USPS News Link Story – Shovel-ready rescue goes viral