Pictured (not in order) at the VPO Grand Opening -- Nick Walker VPO Coordinator, with Josh Slone, David Thomas, Donnie and Maybelle Newsome, Ronnie Ratliff (Postmaster of the Hindman Post Office), Charlie Keens, Stacy Turner, Melanie Little, Josh Meade and Austin Breeding. (Photo by Mary Ross)
The Big S Market, located at 53 Old House Branch Road in Topmost, is the new home of the first Village Post Office in Knott County.
The Topmost VPO is another opportunity to make postal services and products more readily available to customers with convenient hours. VPOs are operated by local businesses and provide a specific range of services and products such, as First-Class postage stamps and Priority Mail products. VPOs also accept mail.
The Postal Service unveiled the VPO concept in Summer 2011 for consideration in communities where there is no existing Post Office or where the Post Office will have reduced hours. VPOs were established in response to the changing mailing needs of the American consumer as more and more customers demand easier, more convenient access to postal products and services where conducting business in their communities.
VPOs are designed for non-Postal Service establishments and are a throwback to Post Offices of old where local shops housed them and patrons would do one-stop shopping and postal services under the same roof. VPOs in the Kentuckiana District are located in grocery, hardware and convenient stores, gas stations, a trophy engraving shop, and bait and tackle store.
The Postal Service acknowledges the contributions of store owner Maybelle Newsome who helped to make the Topmost VPO possible.
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.
More information about the Village Post Office initiative is available on www.usps.com at http://about.usps.com/news/electronic-press-kits/expandedaccess/welcome. htm.
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