Customer Jessica Bergman threw a USPS-themed birthday party for her son, Cody, at left, who is a big fan of letter carrier “Mailman Mike” Maliszewski. Cody’s sister, Hailey, plays behind a replica of a Post Office counter.

A little postal customer recently received a big surprise from his letter carrier and other employees of the Simsbury, CT, Post Office.

Jessica Bergman had asked Letter Carrier Mike Maliszewski if he could stop by in his postal vehicle during her son Colby’s second birthday party.

“Mailman Mike is Colby’s hero,” Jessica said, which is why she planned a mail-themed birthday party.

Maliszewski didn’t just accept the invitation, he asked his supervisors for permission to arrange for a group of vehicles to drive by the child’s home with him.

This surprise parade consisted of LLVs, first-responder vehicles and a garbage truck.

“I’ve worked in town for 37 years, so I asked my friends in all those departments,” he said.

On the day of the parade, Maliszewski delivered a certificate recognizing Colby as an honorary letter carrier and gave the boy a ride-on toy.

Colby also received postal-themed gifts from his family, including the USPS-licensed LLV ride-on toy by Kid Trax and U.S. Mail carrier costume.

“Mailman Mike and the Post Office staff went above and beyond anything I could have ever imagined,” Jessica said. “Our community just loves our postal workers. They do amazing work and we’re so grateful for them.”

The party decor, which included a garland of mail trucks, a USPS-themed cake and a replica of a Post Office counter, caught the eye of a neighbor, James Galston III, who is also a Postal Service employee.

Galston, a contracting officer in Windsor, was on his way to work when he spotted the display.

“It was awesome. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. It made my day and week,” he said.

The Coast to Coast challenge can help participants build healthy behaviors while virtually visiting some of the nation’s most popular attractions.

USPS employees can sign up for Coast to Coast, a six-week virtual wellness road trip that encourages physical activity and healthy habits.

The nostalgia-themed challenge will have participants visiting some of the country’s most popular attractions while earning points for exercise and self-care.

Employees can register online through Sept. 19. The program runs Sept. 11-Oct. 22.

There will also be trivia questions, information about the featured attractions and the ability to collect bumper stickers to commemorate each visit.

Employees are encouraged to create teams of 4-5 members and help each other stay motivated. Participating in small groups can make the challenge more engaging and provides an opportunity for team building.

The program is open to all Postal Service employees, including family members ages 13 and older.

Nonexempt employees may only participate off the clock or during authorized breaks.

The USPS Wellness team is presenting the challenge with GEHA, a not-for-profit provider of health plans for federal employees.

For more information, visit the USPS Wellness LiteBlue page or email the USPS Health and Wellness team.