Post Office to begin holiday hours, seeking volunteers Published Nov. 3, 2011 By Airman 1st Class Katrina R. Menchaca 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- With the approach of the holiday season, the Yokota Post Office has released mailing deadlines and extended hours in order to help accommodate the increased incoming and outgoing mail. The new hours are scheduled to begin Nov. 28 and end Jan. 3, 2012. "The purpose of increasing our service hours is to give customers as much time as possible during the peak season to pick up and mail package," said Master Sgt. Marc Nickelberry, 374th Communications Squadron postmaster. "It also allows us to clear packages off of our shelves, giving us required floor space to support the increase in mail traffic." Nickelberry went on to say, "During this peak season, our mail volumes increase up to 50 percent and our mail space reaches its maximum capacity. Therefore, it is important for customers to check their mail as frequently as possible. As much as we'd like to hold mail until as close to Christmas day as possible, we just do not have the room to accommodate the mail volume." Holiday Mailing Deadlines 2011 holiday mailing deadlines for items being shipped to the continental U.S.: Space Available Mail: Dec. 2 Parcel Airlift Mail: Dec. 2 Priority/First Class Mail: Dec. 9 Express Mail: Dec. 16 2011 holiday mailing deadlines for items being shipped to other APO/FPO locations: Parcel Post: Nov. 12 Space Available Mail: Nov. 26 Parcel Airlift Mail: Dec. 03 Priority/First Class Mail: Dec. 10 Express Mail: Dec. 17 Customers mailing five or more packages are asked to save time in line by contacting the parcel mailing section to set up an appointment at 225-8511. Holiday Hours From Nov. 28 until Jan. 3, 2012, holiday hours for the parcel mailing and parcel pick-up sections are as follows: Monday-Friday: 10 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. Saturday: 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Sunday: Closed Special Dates: Dec. 24: Open until 8 p.m. (Parcel Pick-Up Window) Dec. 25: Closed Dec. 26: 10 am - 2 p.m. (Parcel Pick-Up Window only] Dec. 31: Normal Hours Jan. 1-2: Closed In addition, the post office is looking for volunteers to help sort the truck loads of mail received during the holiday season. "Volunteers are important because the additional manpower during this high volume mail period enables us to process mail much quicker and more efficiently," said Nickelberry. "The more manpower we have available, the faster we can get mail to the customers and the quicker we can clear our shelves for inbound mail. "All additional manpower is not only appreciated, it is most often required to meet the needs of our customers during the holiday season." If interested in volunteering, contact the postmaster at 225-3957/8209.