Through Holiday Rush, Local Letter Carrier Delivers More Than Mail to Coachella Valley Neighbors

For generations, Santa Claus hasn’t been the only one delivering packages during the holidays. This time of year is also the busiest season for the United States Postal Service, with more than 7.5 billion pieces of mail and packages accepted nationwide since the start of the holiday rush.

NBC Palm Springs reporter Tiani Jadulang spoke with local letter carrier Robert Gary, who has spent the last 30 years delivering mail across Desert Hot Springs, Indio, and now Palm Springs. For Gary, the job goes far beyond dropping off letters and packages.

If you’re anything like Gary, you know your neighbors by name. That connection is something his customers notice, too. Longtime Palm Springs resident Suze says she can always count on him. She describes Gary as friendly, reliable, and someone who makes receiving mail a positive part of the day.

For Gary, the work has become a routine built on familiarity. It includes driving the same routes, chatting with neighbors, and making sure packages land in the right hands. He says the sense of duty reminds him of his time in the military, where wearing a uniform represented service and responsibility.

That commitment is tested during the holidays. Mail volume increases significantly, and deliveries often take longer than usual. Gary says the workload can be demanding, but carriers remain dedicated to getting packages out, even if it means longer days.

Nationwide, the USPS employs more than 650,000 people during the holiday season and has added roughly 14,000 more workers to keep up with demand. Since the pandemic, the agency has also invested heavily in new package-sorting technology, allowing facilities across the country to process up to 88 million packages a day.

Despite the challenges, carriers like Gary continue showing up with a smile. USPS officials say small steps from customers can help, including keeping porch lights on and securing pets during deliveries.

For many in the Coachella Valley, the familiar face of their letter carrier remains a steady presence during the busiest time of the year.