By DONNA CAMPBELL / Community Columnist

With Thanksgiving fast approaching and Christmas not far behind, it’s wise to get holiday cards and packages ready to mail. The Pelham Post Office located on Pelham Parkway offers a variety of services to help you with your holiday mailings. In addition to holiday stamps, you’ll find a wall of colorful mailing accessories, such as labels, bubble mailers, boxes and packing tape. For business after hours, the self-serve kiosk in the lobby is easy to use for sending letters and packages.

According to Jackie Scott, Pelham postal clerk, “If you plan to send your holiday letters and packages using Standard Post™ Service, be sure to have them to the post office by Dec. 14 to ensure delivery by Dec. 25. For Priority Mail Service, the date to remember is Dec. 21, and for First-Class Mail Service, Dec. 20.”

For packages being sent to active military with an APO address, now is the time to send. The United States Postal Service website, Usps.com, shows the due dates for the various APO address zips. Depending on where you’re sending the care package and how it’s being sent, key dates are Dec. 3, 10 and 17.

“Remember to tape your packages well,” Scott said. “The further a package has to travel, the more handling will occur. Bubble-wrap contents and add filler, like peanuts or shredded paper, so your items won’t shift in the package and become damaged. Remember that there are items that cannot be shipped through the mail. If you have a question on an item, please ask us or check the website for a complete list. Our goal is to help your mail reach your friends and family for the holidays from zip code 35124.”

That’s good advice from a lady who’s seen mail in all shapes and sizes.

Donna Campbell is a community columnist for the city of Pelham and can be reached at dcampbell45@att.net.