Postal carriers working overtime to meet holiday demand

The week before Christmas is the busiest of the year for the U.S. Postal Service. Many of your mail carriers are running two routes a day to make sure all of your packages are delivered on time, often arriving to load up their trucks at 5 a.m. and not returning until 8 p.m.

“Nothing can be sent back, nothing can be left behind,” said postal worker William Delgado. “We prioritize and take out the things that are closest to the office, get it all ready, go out, do waves and then come back and assist other carriers who need extra help.”

Delgado may not come down the chimney, but his priorities are the same as Santa Clause’s: getting your presents under the tree before Christmas Day.

“I’ve been known to get some goodies and some cookies, it’s part of the tradition,” Delgado said.

But his favorite tradition is the USPS’s dedication to serving the community.

“It’s still a tradition that is upheld here in the United States, so it’s something that gives us something to look forward to,” Delgado said. “No matter what, every day you will see your mailman out there on the street delivering your mail.”

Even though the streets aren’t as busy during the pandemic, Delgado insists “the feeling is still out there.” It’s your joy and gratitude that keeps the U.S. Army veteran smiling through the long days.

“I love what I do, it’s a lot of fun,” Delgado said. “Keep shipping stuff to the post office and we’ll keep delivering it.”

If you have any items that still need to be shipped before Christmas, there are three dates you need to be aware of:

• Friday is the last day for first class shipping
• Saturday is the deadline for priority mail
• And if you want to wait until the last minute, you can ship next-day express on Dec. 23

However, your local post office says the sooner you get your packages in the mail, the better. You can also submit a request to have packages picked up from your doorstep.