Post office workers stay busy

By Sam Waller

Albany postmaster Laura Gilbreath is encouraging U.S. Postal Service customers to get a jump on mailing packages to ensure deliveries of Christmas presents before Christmas Day.

Gilbreath said the Albany Post Office will maintain its regular hours through Dec. 23.

“We will be closing at noon on Christmas Eve,” she said.

Gilbreath said packages posted by Dec. 17 should arrive at their destination before the holiday.

“After that, we can’t guarantee that packages will get there on time,” she said.

Gilbreath said there is usually an increase in the number of items shipped by priority mail at this time of year.

Last year’s COVID-19 lockdown and the popularity of shopping online through companies like Amazon have caused an increase in the number of parcels handled by the Albany Post Office. Gilbreath said she expects that number to about double during December.

Amazon shipments have led to Albany postal workers putting in some longer hours.

“Amazon delivers seven days a week and we have to be there to handle it,” she said. “On Sundays, we just have to take care of that day’s deliveries.”

Postal customers will receive notices of Amazon deliveries in their P.O. boxes with packages often placed in storage lockers, as long as space allows.

Gilbreath states that she can’t stress enough the need to pick up packages in a timely fashion. 

“We just don’t have the space to store all of the packages we are receiving on a daily basis,” said Gilbreath.