The U. S. Postal Service is offering three alternatives to help with the holiday mailing crunch.

1) Contract Postal Units: Located everywhere in South Carolina, with 52 in the 290-6 ZIP Code Area. Below is a listing of several in the Midlands. They provide a complete line of products and services, (everything except money orders and P.O. boxes) including packaging supplies and stamps for Christmas Cards.

Downtown University of SC 1600 Hampton Street Columbia SC 29201 Mon-Friday 9-4:30

Northeast/Sandhills Two Notch Rd CPU @ The Office 9003 Two Notch Road Columbia SC 29223 M-F 9-6:30, Sat: 9-2

North Two Notch Road CPU Shirley's Variety Shoppe 10173 Two Notch Road Columbia, SC 29229 M-F 9-6:30, Sat: 9-3

Polo Market 841 Polo Road Columbia, SC 29229 M-F 9-6:30, Sat 9-3 Cayce/West Columbia Parkland Plaza Discount Dollar Store 220 Knox Abbot Dr Cayce, SC 29033 M-F 9-6, Sat 9-2

Woodberry Plaza East Coast Tanning 3236 Augusta Road West Columbia, SC 29169 M-F: 8-7, Sat: 9-5

St.Andrews/Harbison/Irmo Saint Andrews Road CPU National Mail Service 736 St Andrews Road Columbia, SC 29210 M-F 9-5

Harbison CPU Crossroads Center 69003-1 St Andrews Road Columbia, SC 29212 M-F 9-6, Sat 10-2

Irmo Village CPU Carolina Girls 7593 St Andrews Road Irmo, SC 29063 M-F 8:30-6, Sat 9-3

Broad River Road CPU 7139 Broad River Road Suite 103 Irmo, SC 29063 M-F: 8:30 - 6, Sat: 9-3

2) Automated Postal Centers: Vending machines that provide 80% of the products and services of a post office, including stamps and postage, depositing a package, getting insurance, and adding delivery confirmation all with one swipe of a major credit card. They're also located in the part of the post office lobby that's accessible 24- 7. Locations include the Main Post Office; Forest Acres; Dutch Fork; Northeast; Sandhills; and West Columbia.

3) Click n' ship/ USPS.com: The secure postal service website, usps.com, is the post Office that never closes. Services include postage, delivery confirmation and insurance. Packaging is also free with Express or Priority Mail.