SAN PEDRO, CA — The Assistance League of San Pedro-South Bay has operated a postal unit under contract to the U.S. Postal Service since Feb. 4, 1964. They sell stamps, ship domestic and international packages and do most things a regular Post Office does, and at the same low price — no extra service charge.

What stands out about this operation is the fact that they are the only non-profit, staffed-by-volunteers U.S. Postal Service (USPS) Contract Postal Unit (CPU) in the nation. The funds they receive through their USPS CPU contract are put right back into their local charitable work.

The Assistance League will be holding a celebration reception on Saturday, March 15, 2014, at 10:00 a.m., to recognize the 50th Anniversary of operating a CPU and the work their volunteers perform for the community. Honored guests scheduled to attend include Congresswoman Janice Hahn, Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe, Los Angeles City Councilman Joe Buscaino and San Pedro Postmaster Raquel Baez.

“This great group of volunteers not only provides a public service by expanding access to postal services in the area, but they do it to raise money to help the less fortunate,” said San Pedro Postmaster Raquel Baez. “We really appreciate their efforts and their community service.”

CPUs are a historic part of the provision of postal services in the United States. A CPU is a supplier-owned or supplier-leased facility operated by the supplier, under contract to the Postal Service to provide specified postal services to the public at USPS prices.

The Assistance League of San Pedro-South Bay, established in 1936, is an all-volunteer organization dedicated to the needs of children, families and seniors in the community. Their programs of service include running a low-cost dental center and providing school uniforms and eye glasses to underserved children.

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