DINWIDDIE, Va (WRIC) – Residents across Central Virginia are still dealing with mail delays weeks after the holidays. One Dinwiddie County resident said she waited at least two weeks for a package to be delivered to her son.
Phyllis Grandison said she doesn’t think it’s directly linked to the Dinwiddie post office. She instead believes it’s linked to the United States Postal Service overall.
“Where’s the mail? That’s all I’m asking,” said Grandison.
Grandison said she sent a Christmas gift to her son living in Capitol Heights, Maryland from the Dinwiddie Post Office on Courthouse Road on December 28. She told 8News she paid almost $20 to make sure the package was delivered within 3 days.
She said the package sat at the Maryland post office, waiting to be delivered until her son had to pick it up.
“I guess it’ll be a Valentine’s gift, the way it’s turning out to be,” Grandison laughed.
Grandison said senior citizens in the Dinwiddie area are complaining about their bills arriving late causing them to pay late fees.
In addition to the package that never made it to her son, she said she received a letter on Friday that was postmarked for December 18th.
“Most people are living on a fixed income, paycheck to paycheck. The creditors don’t want to hear I got my statement late,” she told 8News.
Grandison said the United States Postal Service should hire more employees in order to keep up with the demand.
“I know somebody personally that worked in the Richmond post office. She said it was only two people working, her and another person. Mail is stacked up, not moving,” Grandison said.
USPS wasn’t immediately available to speak to 8News Sunday, but in a previous statement said COVID-19 has caused a temporary employee shortage, ongoing capacity challenges with airlifts and trucking for a historic volume of mail.
Full statement from The United States Postal Service
“The U.S. Postal Service, similar to the broader shipping sector, continues to face near-term pressure on service performance across categories as it manages through a historic record of holiday volume this season. This negative impact is compounded by the temporary employee shortage due to the COVID-19 surge, as well as ongoing capacity challenges with airlifts and trucking for moving this historic volume of mail.
The Postal Service’s 644,000 employees continue to work diligently to address issues and remain focused on delivering for the nation. Amid the historic volume, the Postal Service continues to flex its network, including making sure the right equipment is available to sort, process and deliver a historic volume of mail and packages this holiday season. Our entire Operations team, from collections, to processing to delivery, worked tirelessly throughout this holiday season, and we continue to work around the clock to address the historic volume. We always accept all volume that is presented to us, which is adding to our challenges.“
The United States Postal Service
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