By Ryan Smith

MEADVILLE TRIBUNE

Even in the holiday rush, people generally take waiting in line at the post office pretty well, according to Jerry Higham, as long as the line’s moving in some kind of an orderly fashion.

It’s when someone with armfuls of loose stuff — sweaters for the grandkids, maybe, or fruitcakes for the in-laws — dumps their goods on the countertop and says something to the effect of ‘I need to mail this,’ Higham said, that “you can hear the grumbles in the audience.”

There’s a number of ways for holiday package-senders to avoid those sorts of social gaffes, but it all really boils to one simple piece of advice: “Be prepared,” said the longtime customer service supervisor at the U.S. Post Office in Meadville.

That office, along with others around the region and nation, is preparing for the annual holiday mailing rush. Literally billions of pieces of mail are sent through post offices between the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, according to USPS. And in the Meadville area, officials have said, the number of packages during that time jumps from the usual average of around 500 per week to upwards of 15,000 by about the second week of December.

“It’s a little heavier than normal” already, Higham said Friday, adding the post office has recently started bringing in some extra part-time employees to accommodate the growing numbers of customers.

But things probably won’t really start to pick up, he said, until the Monday following Black Friday. It’s usually then, Higham said, that postal customers “start mailing out all that stuff” they picked up on the cheap a few days before.

“With the economy, it’s hard to guesstimate” if the rush will be lighter this year, said Higham, but he predicted there may be an increase in less-expensive mailings of smaller packages and gift cards.

Still, he said, “if the grandkids want something substantial,” chances are their loving elders will probably do everything they can to grant their wishes.

Whatever the case may be, the post office “carries everything you need” — including 24-hour automated services — to get a package, large or small, to its destination in one piece and on time, said Higham.

And “if you’re prepared when you come to the window, it makes the line go a lot faster,” he said.



Why hurry up and wait?

Patrons don’t have to stand in line for services at the U.S. Post Office in Meadville. There is an automated postal center that’s available 24 hours a day in the building’s lobby and accepts credit cards or debit cards for payment.

Patrons can mail most packages, buy stamps and insurance, send certified mail and other services using the machine.

n More information: Call the post office at or visit www.usps.com on the Web.

Mark your calendar

If you’re mailing letters and cards to military addresses this holiday season, or sending packages via Priority Mail, they should be sent by Dec. 11 for delivery by Dec. 25, according to the U.S. Postal Service.

Most overseas mailings for letters and cards or packages via Priority Mail also should be sent by Dec. 11.

Parcel post mailing for Christmas delivery should be sent by Dec. 16.

For letters and cards or Priority Mail packages shipped anywhere in the United States, the deadline for Christmas delivery is Dec. 21.

Express mail packages should be sent no later than Dec. 23.

For a complete schedule, visit www.usps.com and click on the Holiday Mailing Calendars link.



Project Support Our Troops

The local Project Support Our Troops continues working on its annual Christmas mailing for American troops serving around the globe.

Donations of items are needed to be able to pack and send 1,200 boxes this year for servicemen and women from units around the region and country, organizers said recently.

All cash donations received go toward mailing costs. Postage costs for the mailings this year are expected to be in excess of $10,000.

Items needed include: store-bought cookies, baby wipes, AA and AAA batteries, tan khaki bandanas, Chapstick, long wool sport socks, beef jerky, crossword puzzles, candy, razors, Pringles, tuna/cracker packs, eye drops, gum, books, travel-size Kleenex, CDs, feminine products, hand-held games, Ziploc baggies (all sizes), pre-paid AT&T; phone cards, small hand sanitizer bottles, ramen noodles, popcorn, DVDs, tea, drink mixes and playing cards.

Donations may be dropped off in Meadville at Veterans of the Vietnam War Post 52, The Meadville Tribune, Fox’s Sew N Vac, the office of Magisterial District Judge Michael Rossi, First Presbyterian Church, Laurie’s Embroidery, Jeron Jewelers, Kentucky Fried Chicken and Flick’s TV and Appliance; in Saegertown at The Factory Restaurant; in Cochranton at the Area Shopper and Pederson Insurance; in Linesville at State Farm Insurance; and in Erie at the office of state Rep. John Hornaman and the Millcreek Township Police Department.

Post 52 is located at 13240 Dunham Road, Meadville.

- More information: E-mail post52@zoominternet.net.