Rhonda Fitzhugh: Always delivering
Rehoboth Beach prides itself on being a small town where everyone knows your name. That’s especially true for Rhonda Fitzhugh.
Fitzhugh has been delivering packages in Rehoboth for 20 years, nearly all of her 24-year career with UPS.
Her route begins at The Point restaurant at the entrance to Rehoboth. From there, she goes all over town. Fitzhugh's stop at Baltimore Avenue is a big one, with the businesses of the second block - including CAMP Rehoboth and r-Squared Design, plus the Rehoboth Mews - having a good number of deliveries. Fitzhugh backs out her handcart, loads up and heads to the Mews. Each person she encounters is greeted by name before receiving their delivery.
“I think I take after my mom in that part. When you greet people by their name, it means extra. You’re saying it as a person,” she said.
Clad in her brown UPS uniform, Fitzhugh is friendly and quick with a smile. Part of her easy charm is her country accent; Fitzhugh was born and grew up in Hurlock, Md., on the state's Eastern Shore. She seems happy to be doing the work, and the feeling is mutual. Fitzhugh said the reason she chose to drive the Rehoboth route was the friendliness of the people and the family atmosphere of the town.
“I get to deliver packages that my customers need and want, and I love bringing a smile to their face when it's here. Things that they need or want, I’m the one they look forward to bringing it. To make their day. That means a lot,” Fitzhugh said.
December is particularly busy, she said, with the influx of Christmas packages.
Fitzhugh's popularity in Rehoboth led to friends starting a Facebook petition to try to get her in a UPS ad campaign.
“It would be an awesome thing; I would love that,” she said. “I’ve given this company 120 percent every day I work here. It’s made me a good living. It’s made me healthy. And I’ve met a lot of good people along the way.”
She said she took the job at UPS because she thought it would be a good company to work for. Traditionally, Fitzhugh said, UPS hires part-time drivers around Christmas time and would bring drivers who performed well on full time.
Early in her career, Fitzhugh served as a cover driver, filling in different routes all over Sussex County. One of those routes was Rehoboth, and she quickly grew to love the town. When she got the chance to make Rehoboth her full-time route, she jumped at the chance. It’s a decision she is still happy with.
“It’s like my family down here,” Fitzhugh said. “I’ve seen them have babies. I’ve seen their babies grow up and get married.”
Fitzhugh recently bought a chicken farm in Seaford with her husband, Brian, which she plans to make her second career when she’s eligible to retire from UPS.
Their farm raises 72,000 chickens, along with pigs and goats. Fitzhugh said she has always wanted to live on a farm, and four years ago, she had the opportunity to do so.
"I've always liked the farming thing," she said. "We went for it."
While she recently turned 50, Fitzhugh said the job has kept her from feeling like she’s 50 with all the exercise that comes with the work.
“I’m still going. I hope I have a few more years in me,” she said.
