Birmingham AL — The U.S. Postal Service will be closing 18 Alabama Post Offices in November and December.

Because of the continuing migration of hard copy messages to electronic alternatives, the downturn in the economy, and some extraordinary requirements in the 2006 Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act, the U.S. Postal Service is compelled to continue its aggressive plan of cost reductions which began nearly a decade ago. The following Post Offices permanently will close:

Last Day November 4, 2011 at Close of Business:

• Grove Oak Post Office, 793 County Road 402, Grove Oak AL 35975-4540
• Hollins Post Office, 377 Chapman Rd, Hollins AL 35082-2000
• Huxford Post Office, 486 Front St, Huxford AL 36543-2000
• Lester Post Office, 30282 Lester Rd, Lester AL 35647-4046
• Marshall Space Flight Center, 4200 Rideout Rd, Huntsville AL 35812-2000
• Oak Hill Post Office, 10525 Highway 10 E, Oak Hill AL 36766-9998
• Sayre Post Office, 6049 Green St, Sayre AL 35139-2000
• Trenton Post Office, 319 County Road 106, Trenton AL 35774-7540

Last Day November 18, 2011 at Close of Business:

• Belk Post Office, 7660 Highway 96, Belk AL 35545-2000
• Clopton Post Office, 11541 County Road 68, Clopton AL 36317-9605
• Cook Springs Post Office, 30 Rockridge Rd, Cook Springs AL 35052-2000
• Delmar Post Office, 11080 Highway 13, Delmar AL 35551-2000
• Galleria Post Office, 1809 Riverchase Dr, Hoover AL 35244-1027
• Mathews Post Office, 2671 Flowers Road, Mathews AL 36052-4020
• McWilliams Post Office, 172 Cedar St, McWilliams AL 36753-2000
• Millerville Post Office, 20078 Highway 148, Millerville AL 36267-2000

Last Day December 2, 2011 at Close of Business:

• Glenwood Post Office, 26 N King St, Glenwood AL 36034-9998

Last Day December 16, 2011 at Close of Business:

• Bucks Post Office, 15260 Highway 43, Bucks AL 36512-2000

The Postal Service is self-sustaining and must earn, by the sale of postage and other services, its entire operations budget. We are proud to say the Postal Service has neither requested nor received any Congressional appropriation for operations since 1984.

Like any self-sustaining enterprise, the Postal Service cannot, in the long run, spend more than it makes and, since many of our losses in volume and revenue will likely be permanent, we must take further action to reduce by consolidating, streamlining, and adjusting our operation.

The Postal Service advises that despite these closings, customer still have access to postal products --- including stamps --- at nearly 100,000 places across the nation. It’s not about brick-and-mortar Post Offices anymore, as products move online and into retail outlets, grocery stores, office supply chains and pharmacies.

“We’re Everywhere So You Can Be Anywhere.” Customers can find locations to purchase postal services in their neighborhoods by visiting an interactive map at uspseverywhere.com and typing a ZIP Code. A simple icon guide designates stamps, as well as shipping and packaging, PO Boxes and other services, for customers to easily navigate to retail outlets, grocery stores, Automated Postal Center (APC) kiosks and Post Offices, among other options. There are many other ways that our customers may purchase stamps:

• There’s one stamp store that’s open 24 hours a day, and it’s only a few mouse clicks away. Visit shop.usps.com. Here you can select postage stamps by price, subject or type and get them delivered right to your home or office in just a few days. There is a small handling fee to prepare and ship your order.
• You don’t have to leave your home or office if you order your Stamps by Mail. Just get some order forms from your letter carrier or at your local Post Office, and then order stamps for delivery directly to your home.
• Use your credit card and our 24-hour stamp hotline to order the postage you need. There is a small handling fee. Dial 800-STAMP-24 (800-782-6724).
• Your nearest access point for postage stamps may be one of the thousands of bank automated teller machines (ATMs) nationwide that stand ready to serve as your personal stamp machine, and all are listed on our website, usps.com. Just click on Locate a Post Office and under Options select Alternate Locations to Buy Stamps. The website will list the nearest address, and even give you a map and directions on how to get there.
• The Automated Postal Center (APC) is a state-of-the-art self-service mailing kiosk that helps you perform most postal transactions, including sending packages and letters, buying stamps and searching for a ZIP Code. Almost 2,500 Post Offices across the country now have these ATM-like machines. They are quick, easy, and convenient.

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses, and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

We’re everywhere so you can be anywhere: www.uspseverywhere.com

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A self-supporting government enterprise, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation, 150 million residences, businesses and Post Office Boxes. The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses, and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations. We’re everywhere so you can be anywhere: www.uspseverywhere.com. With 32,000 retail locations and the most frequently visited website in the federal government, usps.com, the Postal Service has annual revenue of more than $67 billion and delivers nearly 40 percent of the world’s mail. If it were a private sector company, the U.S. Postal Service would rank 29th in the 2010 Fortune 500. Black Enterprise and Hispanic Business magazines ranked the Postal Service as a leader in workforce diversity. The Postal Service has been named the Most Trusted Government Agency six consecutive years and the sixth Most Trusted Business in the nation by the Ponemon Institute.