TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. — From sorting facilities to post office lobbies, it's the height of the busy season for the United States Postal Service, working to make sure Christmas gifts and cards are under the tree in time.
"It's gung-ho, they're here 7:30 in the morning and they're on the streets delivering 5, 6, 7 o'clock at night,” said Kyle Goluba, postmaster of Tarpon Springs.
Jordan Giuffré has been a mail carrier for seven years, with routes in Holiday and Tarpon Springs.
“There's the connection we have, see the same people every day, oddly enough we don't run out of things to chat about,” Giuffré said. “The older generations definitely love seeing the mail carriers, the young generations love seeing us come by, they love hearing the hum of the truck, they love seeing that goofy guy on the right-side-drive vehicle.”
It's the community connection that makes Giuffré love his job that during this time of year has him spending more time outside your homes.
“We might be coming out to dark houses and people get scared when we knock. Just take a look out, you'll hear the truck humming, you'll hear the back [van] door open and close, everyone is out delivering packages right now so just be mindful of that,” he added
RELATED: US attorney: 5 people federally charged after robbing postal workers at gunpoint in Tampa area
An important safety reminder that also goes for drivers who share the road.
“A lot of times we'll be on busy roads, you'll see our flashers, us going out to the back of the truck, grabbing packages. That's scary for us seeing cars whizzing by, please just go slow, take your time going around us, we'll be done in a minute,” Giuffré said.
Because even you play a role in making sure mail carriers can do their jobs, an ever-important one especially right now.
“I probably have more packages than Santa does, but we're next in his line of defense, we do our best to deliver to our communities and make sure everyone gets their Christmas,” he added.
Safety concerns for mail carriers are at the top of mind in the Tampa Bay area, as the man accused of killing a USPS driver in a hit-and-run crash Monday prepares to face a judge Friday.