Aviano post office relies on helping hands

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Cary Smith
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  A 16-wheeler truck backs up to a frozen loading dock at Aviano Air Base, Italy. U.S. Airmen patiently stand by as the metal doors screech open to reveal the day's shipment.

"Throughout the year, trucks deliver an average of 300 to 450 parcels a day, but during the holiday season the post office handles 1,500 to 2,000 packages daily," said Staff Sgt. Alexander Brown, 31st Communications Squadron postal services center lead. "The hardest part during the holidays is the workload."

During this time of year, the post office calls on the aid of volunteers and asks customers to follow several guidelines to ensure a more efficient delivery process. 

"Volunteers are always welcomed and appreciated," said Brown. "Having extra hands helps us with unloading, sorting mail, pitching letters into mailboxes and working at the parcel pickup window, even if it's just for a few minutes."

Interested volunteers can call the post office ahead of time for the best times and days to help. According to Brown, prime hours are 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays, but volunteers can help any time.

"When it comes to the holiday season, we can use all the support we can get" said Brown. "Volunteers allow us to accomplish other duties."

Other than volunteering, Team Aviano members can follow several key tips to help post office efficiency.

One of the steps is checking their mailbox regularly to avoid packages from stacking up in the post office. Customers are also encouraged to use the new online customs forms to help expedite lines.

"Customers can go online and print out their own customs form, fill in the information and bring it to the post office with their package," said Staff Sgt. Courtney Schmitz, 31st CS postal clerk. "Soon the online customs forms will be mandatory, but right now they are encouraged in order to streamline the mailing process."

Another helpful guideline is for customers to research how to ship packages before arriving to the post office on the United States Postal Service website. If customers need assistance locating packages in transit, they should bring all the proper documents and tracking numbers.

Team Aviano members can do their part this holiday season to ensure a speedy mailing process, whether by volunteering or making sure all their mailing documents are in order.

For more information on how to volunteer, call Staff Sgt. Alexander Brown or Staff Sgt. Ricky Wilson at 632-7119.