It expects nearly 1 billion cards, letters and packages to be mailed December 17, the busiest day of the season. This includes 275 million cards and letters. The average daily volume for cards and letters is 82 million.

The service is doing everything it can to ensure holiday mail arrives on time, the organization assured its board of governors Tuesday. It is also encouraging people to avoid lines by using automated postal centers, which are open 24 hours a day.

In November it issued a deadline of Dec. 15 for packages sent using the least expensive option, parcel post, to arrive by Christmas. For parcels sent first class or priority mail, the deadline is Dec. 20. Customers have until Dec. 22 to send Christmas packages by express mail.

The board of governors also approved a budget request for the next fiscal year of $117.7 million. The previous budget request was for $153.4 million. The money covers reimbursement for costs associated with programs such as free mail for the blind and for overseas voting, according to spokesman David Partenheimer. Funding for regular postal operations comes from the sale of stamps, products and services.