Postal official tells Kentuckians you simply can't mail too early for the holidays

Before you know it, December 25^th will be here. For Kentuckians planning on sending traditional Christmas cards and maybe more likely, packages, deadlines are approaching. U.S. Postal Service Spokesman Sean Hargadon says time is running out.

 “The big thing we’re telling people right now is to send early. You want to avoid the last-minute rush by sending items well before the recommended holiday deadlines,” said Hargadon.

Those deadlines are the 16^th for first-class mail, the 20^th for priority mail, and 21^st for priority express. As part of a ten-year Postal Service plan, 348 new package sorting machines are online along with hiring some 10,000 seasonal workers nationally.

Neither rain nor snow or even a high volume of email activities are expected to deter postal workers in Kentucky this month. Hargadon said more than 12 billion packages and mail pieces moved last year with already seven billion this holiday season.

“Weather happens to change. We get any snow on the ground, any ice on the ground, any rain on the ground. It gets darker earlier. Keep the pathways open. Keep the lights on. But we’re getting the mail through and that’s really what this season is about,” said Hargadon.

To get the full rundown and deadlines and other holiday time postal suggestions, go to USPS.COM/HOLIDAYNEWS