USPS sets deadlines for Christmas packages, urges ‘adopters’ for Operation Santa

WASHINGTON (DC News Now) -- The U.S. Postal Service is urging customers to mail their Christmas packages early to ensure delivery by Dec. 25, while encouraging people to help make holiday wishes come true through Operation Santa.

The USPS has set key mailing deadlines: Dec. 17 for Ground Advantage, Dec. 18 for Priority Mail, and Dec. 20 for Priority Mail Express. For military mail, the deadlines are Dec. 9 for Priority and Dec. 16 for Priority Mail Express.

"We’re recommending that customers mail early, we want to take the stress out of the holidays and keep more money in your wallet," said Mark Wahl, strategic communication specialist for USPS.

Mailing early can save money, with Ground Advantage costing approximately $17.55 if sent by Dec. 17. Waiting until December 18 to use Priority Mail increases the cost to $19.75, and delaying until December 20 requires Priority Mail Express, which costs $93.75, Wahl noted.

Officials said USPS has installed 95 new machines across the country, increasing its capacity to process about 88 million packages a day.

Operation Santa

In a new initiative, USPS is encouraging people to "adopt" a letter for Christmas. Through the program, Individuals, groups or teams can look through letters sent by families across the U.S. and choose one to fulfill, buying the listed items.

Last year, the program received over 33,000 letters and fulfilled about 28,000 of them, according to Wahl.

Those interested in participating can click here to adopt a family or write their own letter.

With these preparations and initiatives, the USPS aims to make holiday mailing more efficient and inclusive this year.

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