[classical music]
A frosty February morning doesn't phase the mailman.
- A lot of my customers will ask me this time of year,
"So, you willingly chose this job?"
- Yes, good morning.
- Truck Driver: Prepared for winter to be over yet?
[in a cheerful voice] - I am, I am.
- Winter's not my best time of year, but I'm good with it.
Sun's out, so I'm okay.
- Angela: Tom Hathaway loves delivering mail
to his Janesville neighbors.
- Here's your mail, no bills.
- And there's yours.
- Thank you. - Happy Valentine's Day.
Look: a cookie, guys!
- Angela: The neighbors love him too.
- Awesome guy.
- All right, thank you. - Thank you.
- Angela: Around here, he's known as
'Tom the Awesome Mailman.'
[Tom laughing] - Have a good day.
- Woman: Thanks. - Alrighty.
- Angela: While his job is fun, Tom's travels give him
a chance to view the city from another angle.
- The mail route, I've been doing since 2008,
and I see what others don't.
- Angela: Including people living in cars
or on the streets.
- Most people think that homelessness occurs
in the big cities: Chicago, New York, LA, et cetera.
But most people do not realize
that it happens in Janesville, Wisconsin.
I found that's something that I could relate to, unfortunately,
seeing it first-hand.
- Angela: In 2013, Tom decided to do something about it.
He held a backyard fundraiser to help those in need,
and the turnout was tremendous.
- Well, we ended up with 200 people, 200 customers,
besides my family and friends, in my backyard.
So, I decided at that point, "Well, why not turn this
into something that helps our community?"
I wanna thank your dedication to those who are homeless
in Rock County.
- Angela: Tom and a group of volunteers
turned it into the "Helping the Homeless Fundraiser,"
an annual event at the Rock County Fairgrounds.
- We raise funds.
We collect donated wish list items.
We raise awareness of the services that are available
to the homeless and those less fortunate in our community.
* When I was just a baby *
* My momma told me son *
- Angela: The event features live music
and a silent auction.
It raises money for six area charities,
including ECHO,
short for Everyone Cooperating to Help Others.
- We are well-known for being a food pantry.
We also are very well-known for doing housing services
for low-income and homeless population.
- Angela: It takes dozens of volunteers
to unload and sort all of the food ECHO receives.
ECHO's annual food budget is $70,000.
Not nearly enough to meet Rock County's needs.
- So, last year, we gave out 3.5 million meals here at ECHO,
which was probably about $1.5 to $2 million
worth of food.
- Angela: That's where donations from the community
help make sure no one goes hungry.
- So, without everyone's cooperation,
we would not be able to do what we do,
so we're very grateful to Tom
for having his annual fundraiser and having ECHO
be a part of it.
- Angela: In six years, the Helping the Homeless fundraiser
has raised more than $43,000 for Rock County charities.
- I would like to thank all of you
for your support.
We appreciate it.
Your community appreciates it.
Thank you.
[audience cheers and claps]
- Angela: Tom the Awesome Mailman, is proud that
he's now known for delivering more than just the mail.
- It's amazing what happens when people see
the average person doing something.
We're all busy people, but man alive, we love doin' this.
We love it.
You feel good about yourself, you're helping your community.
We love it.
[classical piano music]