Busiest mailing day of the season

We are more than a week away from Christmas and that means the rush is on for local post offices. Monday marks the busiest mailing day of the season and post offices in eastern Idaho were packed. Around 6 million customers nationwide paid a trip to the post office Monday.

Postal retail employees even processed mail on Sunday in anticipation of the holiday rush. At the post office in Lewisville, Post Master Relief Mary Gasser said she was busy all day.

“I would say we got about 15 to 30 more packages than we normally would and a good 2 feet in letters than we normally would,” said Gasser.

Meanwhile, the UPS store in Idaho Falls expects to see six times as much mail Monday. Nationwide the numbers are larger. The United States Postal Office said it expects to process more than 600 million pieces of mail. A 12 percent increase from last year. If you were standing in line Monday you weren’t alone — the Idaho Falls Post Office had a line stretching to the door.

“We did send a few things through Amazon, this was just some of the stuff that came from other places,” said Idaho Falls resident Jennifer Roth.

“I come here three or four days a week. I normally come in the morning hours, but the last couple of weeks everyone has been here and the line goes out till the post boxes office,” said Amber Lee Fjelsted.

Some customers said the secret to making it through the holidays is to have holiday cheer.

“Everybody just needs to slow down and enjoy Christmas. If the line is there it is there, talk to the people who are there and wish them a Merry Christmas,” said Cody Ashmont.

Postal carriers know their time is coming, too. This Wednesday is the busiest day delivering cards and letters. Thursday is a busy day for packages. Dec. 23 is the last day to send priority mail express for Christmas Day arrival.