US Postal Service Braces For Busy Holiday Season

Postal carriers work around the clock to make sure holiday gifts arrive on time. 

We have plenty of technology to send messages to family and friends. However, the personal touch of sending a gift through the mail stands the test of time.   

“We sacrifice a lot during the holidays,” said Sean Walton, U.S. Postal Service manager for Oklahoma City’s processing and distribution center. Walton oversees Oklahoma City’s more than 800,000-square-foot facility.   

“The mail never stops,” Walton said. “The mail runs 24/7.”  

It's a responsibility people rely on especially around the holidays.   

“It is kinda daunting,” Walton said. 

Shipping people’s cards and packages on time with care and attention to detail is the standard. With the help of technology, workers make sure that everything completes its journey.   

“We see all kinds of things come through here,” Walton said. “They’ll mail a car bumper. They’ll wrap it up, and they’ll put it in the mail."

“It’s what we do. It’s what we do. We deliver mail to the customer.”  

 Millions of packages – none more important than another because every package carries the giving spirit from one person to another.  

“It’s so important to so many people,” Walton said. 

The USPS holiday deadline to send things like greeting cards and first-class packages is Saturday, Dec. 17.  

2022 Holiday Shipping Deadlines 

1.  Dec. 16 — APO/FPO/DPO (except ZIP Code 093) USPS Priority Mail Express Military service 
2. Dec. 17 — USPS Retail Ground service 
3. Dec. 17 — First-Class Mail service (including greeting cards) 
4. Dec. 17 — First-Class packages (up to 15.99 ounces) 
5.  Dec. 19 — Priority Mail service 
6. Dec. 23 — Priority Mail Express* service 

Alaska 

·       Dec. 18   — Alaska to/from continental U.S.– First-Class Mail and Priority Mail 

·       Dec. 21   — Alaska to/from continental U.S.– Priority Mail Express 

Hawaii 

·       Dec. 17  — Hawaii to/from mainland – First-Class Mail and Priority Mail 

·       Dec. 21  — Hawaii to/from mainland – Priority Mail Express