For some neighbors in New Hope, Pa. that person is their mailman, Pierre Laguerre.
Even as he made his normal rounds on Monday, he was still grieving over the quake that took the lives of beloved family members.
"I lost my little brother, I lost my uncle. It's hard to accept. I cannot even talk right now," Laguerre said.
On their own, people along Laguerre's route raised nearly $3,000 to help him cover travel expenses to get to Haiti with supplies and aid for family members who survived.
However, the neighbors have been told they cannot give Laguerre the money in any form, gift or cash, despite the extraordinary circumstances.
"Never, ever, did we dream we'd run into an issue with the postal service telling us we can't take up a collection and give it to him, " said Keller Taylor of Solebury Township. "Everybody was outraged."
"The postal service has some ethics rules, and we're not allowed to accept cash gifts," said New Hope Postmaster Jim Holland, who added that applies even though Laguerre did not solicit the money.
"What are we going to do, influence him to give us our mail five minutes earlier?" asked Taylor. "We're not influencing anybody. At all!"
As for Pierre Laguerre, he's deeply appreciative and he hopes he can get home to Haiti soon to tend to his ailing mother.
"I appreciate what they're trying to do," he said. "I know it comes from the bottom of their hearts."
The neighbors have appealed to Rep. Patrick Murphy to see if he can help them get an exception in this case.
Murphy's office told Action News they are trying to assist.
