USPS reminds senders to ship holiday mail before deadlines for Christmas delivery

WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — Knowing these shipping deadlines from the United States Postal Service could save you from a holiday headache if you plan to send holiday gifts or cards.

USPS has various shipping deadlines to ensure holiday packages and gifts reach their domestic and international destinations by Christmas Day, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa.

The deadlines are as follows for domestic shipping, excluding Hawaii and Alaska:

• USPS Ground Advantage Service - Dec. 18
• First-Class Mail Service - Dec. 18
• Priority Mail Service - Dec. 19
• Priority Mail Express - Dec. 21

For shipments headed to Alaska and Hawaii, the postal service urges senders to keep these deadlines in mind:

• USPS Ground Advantage Service - Dec. 16
• First-Class Mail Service - Dec. 18
• Priority Mail Service - Dec. 19
• Priority Mail Express - Dec. 20

For packages heading to military bases or international destinations, deadlines vary by location and service type. USPS officials advise checking their website for specific international shipping dates.

Bridge Creek station manager Katherine Mcgarity says carriers and employees work hard to deliver packages on time, but early planning helps ensure holiday cheer arrives right on schedule.

Mcgarity wants to remind everyone that you can't ship alcohol or anything flammable. If you're sending anything with batteries, check the USPS website for instructions on how to send them. The website also has a system you can utilize to track packages and avoid scams.

"USPS.com tracking is the easiest way to track your package. I just want to caution everybody that I know there are a lot of text messages — I get some myself — that say your package is being held at a packaging facility due to a zip code error," Mcginty warned. "Those are not postal emails. Those are not postal tags. Those are scams. We do not do that."

For all the good boys and girls, Dec. 11 is the last day to send Santa your wish list through USPS's Operation Santa Claus.

"This allows children across the country to mail a letter to Santa. They do get a return letter from Santa, but it also allows for the country and the community at home to help out these families that are in a time of need," said Mcgarity. "The letters are posted on USPS.com. You can go in and you can adopt a family, and the packages will be mailed straight to the child's home."

The letters must be addressed to 123 Elf Lane. With these deadlines fast approaching, USPS reminds customers that timely shipping can make all the difference in spreading holiday joy.