Jennie Hobbs addresses a present to her best friend in Little Rock, Arkansas, at the United States Post Office on Shallowford Road in Chattanooga on Monday. With Christmas less than a week away the post office was a hub of activity all day.
Elisabeth Montague busily wraps presents for her grandparents on the floor of the United States Post Office on Shallowford Road in Chattanooga on Monday. With Christmas less than a week away the post office was a hub of activity all day.
Karin Hennessee weighs christmas cards at the United States Post Office on Shallowford Road in Chattanooga on Monday. Hennessee is a 28-year veteran of the United States Postal Service.The local mail center processed as many as 70,000 packages Monday, about double the normal numbers, on the busiest package shipping day of the year.
Today is expected to be the highest volume day for letters, with the post office distribution center on Shallowford Road sending off about 700,000 of the 801 million cards and letters sent nationally.
As she sat on the floor at the General Mail Facility preparing to ship her gifts, Elisabeth Montague wasn’t worried about other customers rushing around her. Her grandparents and cousins are waiting in Oregon and California to hear from her, so she had one thing on her mind.
“I’m just trying to mail it,” she said.
Today is the last day to ship via First Class mail to ensure pre-Christmas delivery without paying a premium.