Envelopes full of handwritten letters and donations for various charities are piling up on Dianne Parker香蕉视频直播檚 desk due to the Canada Post strike.

She says it has been heart-rending she can香蕉视频直播檛 ship them off to mailboxes across Canada and the world, including to her granddaughter who works an ocean away in Switzerland.

香蕉视频直播�(My granddaughter) loves to get snail mail from her grandma,香蕉视频直播� the 78-year-old reverend said in a phone interview from her office at an Anglican church in Halifax.

香蕉视频直播淪he has a number of (letters) framed. It gives me so much joy sending it. And I love receiving mail myself. I really do.香蕉视频直播�

Parker, who is also on the board of the Canadian Association of Retired Persons, says her experience is just one example of how the strike, now entering its second week, is 香蕉视频直播渆roding joy香蕉视频直播� for many seniors in Canada.

Some, she said, haven香蕉视频直播檛 been able to receive the results of their medical exams. Others are waiting on prescriptions. Many feel isolated, unable to connect with loved ones during the holiday season.

香蕉视频直播淭he postal service is a lifeline to the aging population,香蕉视频直播� she said.

香蕉视频直播淭hey don香蕉视频直播檛 have WhatsApp (text messaging), they don香蕉视频直播檛 have email. Their only avenue of keeping in touch is with Canada Post. To be disconnected during this season is isolating.香蕉视频直播�

She said folks in her community recently saw a senior crying at a caf茅 over the strike.

香蕉视频直播淭hey asked her, 香蕉视频直播業s there anything we can do?香蕉视频直播� And she said, 香蕉视频直播業香蕉视频直播檓 devastated that I香蕉视频直播檓 not going to be able to receive or send a Christmas card to my lifelong friend.香蕉视频直播�

About 55,000 employees represented by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers walked off the job last Friday, shutting down Canada Post operations and halting deliveries. The two sides are negotiating over wages, job security, working conditions and other issues.

The strike has been gripping communities across Canada, with towns and utility companies regularly issuing reminders on how to pay upcoming bills online.

Parker said she learned of the strike during one of her many weekly trips to her local drugstore to send mail.

香蕉视频直播淭hey recommended that I not even put (the letter) in the slot because it could just be there for so, so long,香蕉视频直播� she said.

She said she loves going to the post office so much, her neighbours and their kids call her the 香蕉视频直播渕ail lady香蕉视频直播� and drop cards into her mailbox on her birthday.

She said talking to her local postal worker brings her joy. She said sometimes it香蕉视频直播檚 the only interaction seniors have with the outside world.

She said she recently learned the workers can even save lives. In England, postal workers are required to notify their manager if mail is piling up at someone香蕉视频直播檚 door, she said.

香蕉视频直播淭hey have to report that there香蕉视频直播檚 something amiss going on in that home,香蕉视频直播� she said.

香蕉视频直播淚t has saved suffering.香蕉视频直播�

Valerie White, a 77-year-old senior in Halifax, said she can understand why the workers are on strike, but hopes for a speedy resolution so she can return to sifting through the junk mail and magazines that get delivered to her door.

香蕉视频直播淚 look forward to reading an interesting article, a recipe or someone expressing more information about what香蕉视频直播檚 going on in the province or in the community,香蕉视频直播� the former government worker said.

香蕉视频直播淵ou just take it for granted.香蕉视频直播�