By Staff
Melissa Cason
Franklin County Times
Even though Friday marked the official start of the 2007 holiday shopping season officials with the U.S. Postal Service are warning shippers to give their letters, cards and packages plenty of time to get their destination.
Delivery Supervisor for the Russellville Post Office Kelly Culpepper said anyone wishing to mail packages to loved ones serving in Iraq and Afghanistan should do so by Dec. 4 or risk the packages arriving late.
"Anyone shipping priority mail to Afghanistan or Iraq must do so by Dec. 4," Culpepper said. "The deadline for parcel post packages to Iraq and Afghanistan has already passed."
She added that military mail outside the continental U.S. should be mailed no later than Dec. 11, and that cards and letters sent within the continental U.S. can be mailed as late as Dec. 22 for delivery by Christmas Day.
"I would recommend mailing cards and letters earlier than Dec. 22, but the Postal Service has given that date as the last day to mail cards and letters," Culpepper said.
The U.S. Postal Service expects to handle 20 billion cards, letters and packages within the next 30 days.
While the next month is the busiest time of the year for the Postal Service, officials said the busiest mailing day of the year is Dec. 17 with 275 million of first-class cards and letters mailed on that date every year.
Dec. 19 is the busiest delivery day of the year.
For more information the holiday package guidelines, visit www.usps.com or visit your local post office.