Deadlines are closing in for shipping things to Missouri’s military people who will be overseas for Christmas. It’s too late for things shipped by parcel post to be guaranteed delivery by Christmas. But the Postal Service says there is still time to ship letters,cards, and packages by other means.

“Space Available” material has a November 21st and November 28th, depending on the APO or FPO address. Other mail can be sent between December 1 and the 18th.

Postal Service Spokesman Valerie Hughes says there’s a reason for early mailing–other than the distance the mail has to travel: “The postal service is not looking at putting on any additional employees this year that I’m aware of.” That’s a situation that underlines the need to get things to post offices before the deadlines.

“Most of our processing is automated, so we just need people to be sure to get things in by the deadline so we can get it into the hands of the military and it can get into the hands of that soldier in time for the holidays.,” she says.,

For more information, including a chart showing the deadlines for various types of mail, click on the link below.

http://www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/2009/pr09_094.htm