Time is running out for people to get their packages in the mail in time for Christmas.
Customers stood in long lines Monday at Danville's main post office on Teal Court on what Postmaster Barry Perdew called the busiest mailing day of the year.
Steve Ostasiewski, of Union Hall, had a package to mail to his son in Utah and Shirleene Lawson, of Pelham, N.C., said getting the one package she held mailed signaled the end of her Christmas shopping.
"This does it," said Judy Emerson, of Danville, as she waited to mail two packages. "I don't buy the grandkids presents anymore. I just write them checks."
Perdew said Dec. 15 is typically the day that most people mail packages, but that Dec. 17 is usually the busiest day for delivering packages.
"But it's hard to believe Wednesday will be worse than today," Perdew said. "We were slammed today."
He said the counter was being fully staffed all day to make the line move as quickly as possible and recommended that people use the U.S. Postal Service's Web site at www.usps.com to make shipping arrangements.
"We'll even pick the packages up at your house," Perdew said.
Ashley Patterson, of Eden, N.C., admitted she has fallen behind on her schedule as she stood at a counter wrapping gifts she wanted to mail out on Monday.
She shrugged off the long line.
"It's that time of year," Patterson said. "I don't mind the crowds."
If people want to ship their packages via parcel post, they need to get them to the post office in the next two days.
"It takes five to seven days for parcel post to be delivered," Perdew said, adding that priority mail will be delivered in two or three days and express mail will get packages to their destination overnight.
"But the longer you wait, the more it will cost," he added.
Children, however, can still write to and get an answer from Santa Claus up until Dec. 25. There is a special mailbox in the post office lobby on Teal Court just for letters to Santa, or children can simply address the envelope to "Santa, Danville, VA 24541" and give it to their letter carrier.
No postage is required on Santa letters, but a return address must be on the envelope so Santa can reply.
• Contact Denice Thibodeau at dthibodeau@registerbee.com or (434) 791-7985.
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