The Hays Post Office is asking customers to help keep letter carriers safe by shoveling a path to their mailbox as soon as possible after it snows.

“We want our carriers to return home to their families healthy each night.” said Hays Postmaster Thomas Lippert. “Keeping a path clear to your mailbox will go a long way toward keeping our letter carriers safe and ensuring  mail delivery each day.”

Hays letter carriers, who each make an average of more than 640 deliveries daily, will continue to do their best to deliver the mail, according to Lippert, but when mailboxes and approaches to mailboxes are buried in snow and ice it can make it difficult for letter carriers to make deliveries safely. Unsafe conditions such as unshoveled snow, icy sidewalks, or large amounts of snow blocking mailboxes can delay or even prevent mail delivery.

Postal customers who receive door mail delivery should ensure their sidewalks, steps, and access ways are kept safely clear of snow and ice. Customers receiving street-side mailbox or centralized cluster neighborhood mailbox delivery should also pay special attention to having a safe and clear pathway to their mailbox.

If access is not safe, mailboxes are blocked, and streets are impassable, letter carriers must consider safety and accessibility first. They are instructed to refrain from delivering to locations they deem too hazardous.

“We greatly appreciate the support of our customers in this endeavor, said Lippert. “Your carrier will thank you.”