Postal Christmas Rush Underway

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Christmas is just around the corner and people are crowding into post offices, to get those last minute gifts shipped out.

At times the line at the Peake Road Post Office was long. Although, there were spurts of shorter lines. But, even those did not last long at all.

Karen Shockley says she did not mind the long wait to mail off her package.

“Im mailing off a birthday package for my daughter in-law in Montana,” says Shockley. “Her birthday is two days before Christmas. I always come to this post office because, I love the customer service, and the personalized service today is just outstanding. I’m not accustom to that.”

People made their way inside, with envelopes and boxes. Wednesday is the busiest day to mail cards and letters.

“We’ve been very busy.,” says Macon Post Master, Tim Goodwin. “We’ve had a lot of customers through here. We’ve got good staffing on the windows. My folks are taking care of them get’em in and get’em out.

Goodwin says all of the local offices are doing extra holiday mail collections. More than half a million pieces of mail went through Macon, Tuesday. That is about 15 percent higher than normal.

The free postal boxes went pretty fast. Mail clerks were constantly restocking the shelves. But, how you package the gift, now that’s important.

“When it comes to packaging the most important part is making sure that it’s properly addressed,” says Goodwin. “That it is in a sturdy box, and properly taped.”

People like Joy Quick , who are excited about mailing off their gifts, the Christmas rush is just a part of the holiday season.

“I came to get a free box to mail my mother her Christmas present for 2013,” says Joy Quick. “My mom is 83, and lives in Mesa, Arizona. I’m glad that she’s my mother and I can’t wait to send her her gift.”

the Post office will be open on Christmas Eve, but closed Christmas Day.

If you want your to arrive on Christmas Day, the deadline for first class mail is Friday, Saturday for priority, and Monday for priority express.