Mailing a valuable package, private business papers and checks through the mail can be a chore and pose some security problems, especially if you live at Lake Gaston.

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In an area whose residents often complain of a lack of services on the county level, people find that the federal government is slow to lend a hand as well.

Recently Ric Chamblee, manager of the Lake Gaston Pit Stop, decided to become proactive and approached the Littleton Post Office with an idea to put out a collection box near the Food Lion Shopping Center. “I don’t like to leave the mail in the regular mailbox with the flag up,” said Chamblee. “It’s a sign that says ‘the check’s in the mail. A collection box is secure.’”

Chamblee related that he and everyone else has to travel at least 16 miles round trip to drop mail at the Littleton Post Office. “Unless it’s time sensitive, I end up going to Gasburg, Va. because it’s closer,” said Chamblee.

Littleton Post Office’s Officer in Charge Carrie Brown said that she has submitted the request for the collection box, but hasn’t had any positive feedback on the situation. “Things are just so different with the economy. It costs money to have the boxes out and a lot of them are being taken up. I haven’t heard anything positive, but I’m trying to remain optimistic.”

Chamblee said, “I think it’s due to the economic situation and cutbacks that this has been put on the back burner and they’re not looking at this as closely as they should. That’s a shame because a lot of people drive a long way to drop off their mail. I think this would be a good thing for the community.”

As of press time, the post office had not been given a blatant “no” to a collection box, so there is hope that if the economy turns around there could still be a secure collection box in Lake Gaston’s future.

If you would like to make a request to the post office to put in a collection box, call 1-800-275-8777. Choose option number five for customer service. 

An operator will take your request from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (It takes about five minutes to make an official request). You will be asked to provide an address for where you would like the collection box located.

If you would like the collection box to be in or near the Food Lion Shopping Center, the location is 2455 Eaton Ferry Road in Littleton.