6 Ways to Help Save the USPS That Each Take Less Than 2 Minutes
If you haven’t already heard, the U.S. Postal Service is in trouble. It's currently running out of government funding and there are concerns that the agency will collapse completely if the government doesn’t approve a substantial aid package to help the USPS weather the COVID-19 storm. And while the post office will always be important (it handles about 48 percent of the country’s mail, including those annual birthday cards from Grandma), its services are even more essential in 2020 when mail-in voting is expected to increase significantly for the election this November. In fact, the USPS has already warned voters that it could take up to two weeks for ballots to be sent out and recollected due to a dip in resources and is urging people to send their ballots to their local elections offices as quickly and early as possible.
So, what can you do to help save the U.S. Postal Service from potential collapse? Here are six suggestions that take less than 2 minutes and can be done without even leaving your couch.
1. Buy Stamps
This is as close as you can get to donating money directly to the USPS. You don’t even need to utilize those stamps right now, you can save them for later so you’ll never again be caught unprepared when you go to mail your nephew’s birthday card, your rent check or any thank you notes. Might we suggest a Bugs Bunny sheet? Or some festive Halloween stamps? Or perhaps a sheet of stamps commemorating women gaining the right to vote? How apropos.
2. Sign a Petition
Add your name to the growing list of citizens who are petitioning the House of Representatives, the Senate and the Department of the Treasury to provide the post office with adequate monetary aid. Then share that link on social media or by email to encourage your friends and family to do the same. Speaking of sharing...
3. Share Information on Social Media
Or in an email or over the phone or even in a hand-written letter mailed with one of the stamps you bought. Call on your friends, family and followers to do their part and educate those who have yet to learn about the situation as to what’s going on and why it’s important.
4. Text USPS to 50409
This one-word text will automatically send a letter to your local representatives using Resistbot and urge them to take action.
5. Call Your Representatives
Pick up the phone to tell your representative in your own voice just how imperative it is that they step up to the plate. Not sure who your local representatives are or how to get in touch with them? Just enter your zip code here and you’ll find all the information you need.
6. Choose USPS Shipping when Shopping Online
If you can choose between using the U.S. Postal Service, FedEX or another shipping company, opt for the USPS and consider shopping from businesses that always use the Postal Service. You can even splurge on express, overnight or 2-day options to get your new goodies faster while giving some extra cash to an agency that really needs it. Sounds like a real win-win situation to us.
RELATED: Here’s How to Register to Vote or Request a Mail-In Ballot in Under 2 Minutes
