Post office in the thick of holiday deliveries

NEWPORT – The holidays are here and that means local postal carriers’ workload goes up, according to Newport Post Office Postmaster Andre Castillo. The Sunday after Thanksgiving kicks off what is known as Amazon Sunday at the post office.

“The number of parcels we get after Thanksgiving goes up by 30%, which is huge,” Castillo says, adding that postal workers delivered around 2,700 packages Sunday, Nov. 30. Carriers averaged 110-120 miles each during delivery.

“We’re asking that people please be patient with us during the holidays,” Andre says. “Mail could be coming as late as 7-8 p.m. at night due to the sheer volume of items that need delivering.”

The Newport Post Office has been participating in Amazon Sundays for the past three years. Typically, post offices are closed Sundays, but during the holiday season Newport Post Office postal carriers deliver packages from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The office is not open to the public and only packages are delivered, with normal hours and business still conducted Monday-Saturday.

“Participating in Amazon Sunday helps us relieve that volume of holiday mail,” Castillo says.

According to Castillo, the post office receives an average of 1,500 to 1,700 parcels daily. After Thanksgiving and through December that number jumps to 2,200 to 2,600 per day. The Newport Post Office services between 4,500 to 5,000 addresses, including post office boxes.

Residents should make sure their mailbox is clear of snow for postal carriers to be able to deliver their mail without getting out of their vehicle. If snow berms block the way, mail will not be delivered that day to that address. Another tip is to make sure addresses are well-defined and easily visible, especially for substitute postal carriers who might not know the route as well.

“Since it gets dark early and employees will be out delivering mail at night, we ask that people please make sure the way is clear so they can get their mail and holiday packages as quickly and efficiently as possible,” Castillo says.

SOPHIA MATTICE-ALDOUS IS A MURROW NEWS FELLOW WORKING DIRECTLY WITH NEWSROOMS AT THE NEWPORT MINER AND RANGE MEDIA THROUGH A PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY. HER REPORTING IS AVAILABLE FOR USE VIA CREATIVE COMMONS WITH CREDIT.