The Kresgeville Post Office is a popular place and one of the reasons is Postmaster Gina Bellis, who recently marked her 37th Christmas working for the U.S. Postal Service.

“It is fabulous to be the postmaster in a hometown like Kresgeville. The big thing about this office is that we know everybody and regulars by name so you know what they want before they walk up to get what they want,” she said.

Every person who walks in the door is greeted by name, along with a smile from Bellis. Often the conversation will turn to how their spouse, children, and grandchildren, or the kids that are off to college and even the health of a family member or friend.

“You become part of their life because we might be the only person they have contact with during the day. Often they come in and they want to chat about whatever, so when we can, we do,” she said.

Bellis said the small post office is a busy one, with only one other employee and sometimes there is a lot of hubbub going on. “One gentleman came in to the post office and told me he drives past three other post offices because Kresgeville Post Office is his favorite,” she said.

Kresgeville Post Office serves around 400 customers and but the rural delivery is small. They are a larger retailer, meaning that they don’t deliver as much mail as sell.

“Sometimes the job is difficult, even though some think we just stand behind the counter all day selling stamps, and that could not be not be any further from truth,” Bellis said.

She truly cares about her customers and tries to educate them that mailing is still one of the best ways when it comes to cost.

When customers come in and are not happy about the 3-cent increase in January, she asks them, “Do you know how much the post office spends a day on gasoline?”

Despite only Bellis and one other employee covering the window, somehow she makes it all look easy.