Tom Hudson

Ona Mae Hudson

Tom and Ona Mae Hudson are our mail room staff. They are paid employees who work 6 days a week, but we get a "lotta bang for our buck!"

Why do they do it? They are both early risers and it's a reason to get up and do something. The mail is sorted into the boxes, but there is so much more. Like the sites in the park, the boxes are not in order on the West side. They pretty much parallel the sites, with 507 being next to 213. Some were switched because of a short lady who couldn't reach her box so her number was placed out of order on a lower box. This past season Tom also changed the locks on all 526 mailboxes.

They stay at Sunscape except for a month long vacation. Who fills in when they're gone - it's Dennis and LouAnn Copsy.

Some of the special services they provide include delivering mail to someone who is housebound as well as any certified mail. If they haven't been notified of an absence and the mail stacks up - they have it checked out. They take special care of medications and checks. They are put into the boxes, but if it is not picked up in a day or two, contact is made with the addressee.

Tom began a logging in all packages by writing the names and lot numbers on them and putting them in alphabetical order so they are easier for us to identify. If they are not picked up in 2-3 days, they are returned to the mailroom and a card is put into the mailbox.

On holidays (Mother's day, Father's Day and Christmas) they sort the mail as soon as it is received so we can receive our special cards and letters from family and friends. They diligently forward mail during our absences and all summer for many of us.

What can we do to make their job easier? Please notify the Welcome Center if you plan to be away more than a few days as well as when you leave for the season. At that time, PLEASE arrange to have forwarding labels provided to the Mail Room. You can make them yourself or they will do it for you - 30 labels for a $1.

Tom is from Ohio while Ona Mae is from South Dakota. They met in Spokane when he was in the service, spent over 30 years in Seattle, and have celebrated 53 years of marriage. Our congratulations and thanks for a job well done.