Preble — On Friday, May 16th, Postal and local officials will cut the ribbon at Uncle Tom’s Family Grocery and Deli, 2785 Route 281, Preble New York, to celebrate the opening of the Village Post Office.  The public is invited to celebrate this event at 11:00 am that day.

This Village Post Office at Uncle Tom’s Family Grocery and Deli will be the first of its kind in Cortland County.  The Postal Service introduced the VPO model as a way to increase access to products and services.  VPOs are operated by a local business contracting with the Postal Service.  A VPO can offer Postal Service customers time-saving convenience, including increased hours of operation.

The centers are are not just more convenient for customers.  They also provide an added revenue stream for the Postal Service, which receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

Through the Postal Service’s VPO partnership with Uncle Tom’s Family Grocery and Deli, postal customers will be able to enjoy the conveniece of a blue collection mailbox right outside the store as well as at the Preble Post Office. 

Customers will receive a locked box for mail delivery at Uncle Tom’s, and will be keeping their existing PO box number and address.  Mail distribution will be done by a postal carrier.

Uncle Tom’s Family Grocery and Deli will be selling booklets of Forever stamps at face value, provide Priority Mail Flate Rate boxes and envelopes, and accept any postage-paid packages for mailing. 

Hours of operation of the VPO will be 6 :00 am to 8 :00 pm, 7 days a week.

More information about the Village Post Office initiative is available  at http://about.usps.com/news/electronic-press-kits/expandedaccess/vpo-welcome.htm.  Business establishments interested in applying for a contract with the Postal Service to start a Village Post Office in their local community should contact vpo.inquiry@usps.gov. 

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