Santa Barbara Post Office experiencing a rise in online deliveries
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Workers at the United States Postal Service have been quite busy throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
At the Post Office in Santa Barbara, the workspace have been changed to enforce physical distancing.
This meant installing sneeze guards along with providing gloves and masks for all employees.
“For the most part, people are fairly happy that we have measures and we’re wearing gloves and having a mask,” post office retail clerk Samuel Hernandez said. “Most people are fairly appreciative of that.”
"We don't even really have to talk to customers about staying six-feet away because they do it themselves,” Santa Barbara Postmaster Caren Gonzalez said.
As many people stay sheltered at home, the demand has steadily risen for packages containing essential goods. Compared to this time last year, the post office has experienced a 55% increase.
The majority of these packages are ordered online from Amazon.
“I believe on Sundays they were getting maybe four thousand Amazon parcels,” post office letter carrier Joyce McCue said. “Now it is up to six and seven thousand.”
“A lot of customers are relying on Amazon for their essentials,” Hernandez said. “Toilet paper and a lot of food products too.”
Some residents have even posted thank you signs on their neighborhood mailboxes.
“I actually take a lot of honor in the fact that I’m still doing this and people appreciate it as much as they do,” McCue said.
“They are appreciate of us, they are supportive of us and they all want our employees to be safe,” Gonzalez said.
Throughout California’s statewide shutdown, these men and women continue to work on the frontlines in our community.
With their hard work, they are providing an essential communication link between families, friends and businesses.
“I’m proud of my employees for being out there,” Gonzalez said. “Even in this pandemic, we are providing great customer service.”
“We go to every door every day and we don’t stop,” McCue concluded. “We are continuing on, you can always count on the mail getting there.”
The Post Office in Santa Barbara is continuing to accept US passport applications. To ensure proper safety measures, you must make an appointment online.
