During the month of October, Newtown’s United States Postal Service office decorated the walls with pink ribbons, paper, signs with encouragement, and tinsel. When customers walked in, it was the first thing they noticed. On two walls, Post Master Jessica Kelly encouraged patrons to fill out ribbons with names of loved ones who have battled breast cancer. Kelly said the month-long event has “gone pretty well.” She explained she wants the office to look more “lively and approachable,” and the decor has definitely become a “talking point” between clerks and customers. Kelly said that she wants people to remember that the awareness does not end on October 31; it is a year-round effort. The Breast Cancer Research semi-postal stamp is also available year-round for that reason. “It’s a good cause,” Kelly noted.

“We brought awareness to a cause that affects more people than we realize,” Kelly said. She added that everyone copes differently, and hopes that the decor brought comfort to some people. As of October 28, Connecticut has sold $328,000 worth of the Breast Cancer Research semipostal stamps, placing the small state at fourth for sales in the country. Last year, Connecticut only sold $58,955. Kelly said that Newtown “didn’t do as great as [she] wanted to, but ... did more than last year.” Kelly looks forward to bringing the pink back next year, and wondered how she would out-do herself in terms of decorations. “When you have good management behind you, it trickles down ... it ignites the passion,” Kelly said.