Post office prepares for holiday mail

Published Oct. 22, 2014
By Airman 1st Class Luke Kitterman
52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- With the holidays right around the corner, Spangdahlem Air Base can expect an increase in the amount of mail coming and going from the post office.

In order to account for this influx and make sure mail arrives on time before the holidays, the 2014 recommended deadline dates for postal customers have been released.

According to the Spangdahlem Postal Service Center, the dates listed below are for mail originating at Spangdahlem and destined for locations within the U.S.

Deadlines vary due to different forms of priority:

-Space available mail is due Nov. 26
-Parcel airlift mail is due Dec. 3
-First Class and Priority mail is due Dec. 10
-Express mail is due Dec. 17

Regarding family and friends sending packages from the U.S. to Spangdahlem, it is also encouraged to send mail earlier than usual, said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Melvin Graham, 52nd Communications Squadron post master.

Along with getting mail out in a timely manner, the post office also welcomes volunteers to help out for the busy holiday workload.

"If you're looking to volunteer during the holiday time frame, the day after Thanksgiving and the day of Christmas Eve are our two busiest days when we could use the extra help," Graham said. "Of course we appreciate volunteers any day, so even if you can't help out on those two days, please come in another time."

Becoming a volunteer for the post office is not limited to Air Force personnel and is as easy as walking through the door.

"Anybody can volunteer whether they are a military member or a civilian," Graham said. "Even kids who want to volunteer can do so as long as they are 15 years of age. Just come in to the post office at the parcel window and tell the member on duty you would like to volunteer for that day or an upcoming day."

The help from the volunteers in past years did not go unnoticed by the postal workers.

"I don't know how we would have done it without the volunteers last year during the holiday rush," said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Troy Whetstone, 52 Communications Squadron postal service center NCO in charge, and native of Tumwater, Wash. "The office really appreciated all the help they provided to get the job done on time. I know we will be excited to be working with the volunteers again this holiday season."

If unavailable to volunteer, there are still other ways to help the post office in the months to come.

"When someone knows they have a package arriving soon, it helps us if they check their box as often as possible," Graham said. "Checking once or even twice a day helps because taking your mail when it arrives makes more room for incoming mail and the flow of the office smooth."

Whether it is getting mail out on time, volunteering or simply checking a mailbox on a daily basis, the Spangdahlem community can help prepare the post office for the workload this holiday season.