Extended hours at local USPS branches aimed at expediting holiday shipping

Deanna Watson, Lafayette Journal & Courier
·1 min read

LAFAYETTE, Ind. – A number of U.S. Postal Service branches are offering extended hours Saturday, including two in the Greater Lafayette area, as the best dates for shipping Christmas cards and presents loom.

Offices in Lafayette, 3450 South St., and West Lafayette, 610 W. Navajo St., will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

The branch at 300 E. Main St. in Crawfordsville will also be open Saturday for extended hours, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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Millions of cards, letters, and packages move through the USPS every day, increasing tremendously during the weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. Some 12 billion pieces of mail and packages will be processed this holiday season, according to the USPS.

The week ending this Saturday is expected to be the busiest during the holidays, as the best dates to ensure a Christmas delivery are fast approaching.

The Postal Service recommends the following mailing and shipping deadlines for expected delivery by Dec. 25:

  • Dec. 17 — First-Class Mail service (including greeting cards)

  • Dec. 17 — First-Class packages (up to 15.99 ounces)

  • Dec. 18 — Priority Mail service

  • Dec. 23 — Priority Mail Express service

In a release, the USPS also wanted to remind Americans that venturing into a branch isn't necessary; you can mail packages from your home and your computer.

Visit usps.com or use the Click-N-Ship feature for help shipping that holiday gift, ordering free Priority Mail boxes, printing shipping labels, purchasing postage and even requesting free next-day Package Pickup.

Deanna Watson is the executive editor at the Journal & Courier. Contact her at dwatson@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @deannawatson66.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Post office branches extend hours, aiming to expedite holiday shipping