Several residents of the western edge of the Chain of Lakes have reported mail delivery issues, including days without receiving mail, missing letters, and more in the past couple of weeks resulting from a staff shortage at a USPS Post Office. 

These issues have been affecting people in the service area of the Elmwood Post Office, located just west of Minneapolis in St. Louis Park. The office covers zip codes 55416 and 55424. 55416 stretches from the west side of Bde Maka Ska, Lake of the Isles, and Cedar Lake up to Wirth Park and includes the eastern part of St. Louis Park, while 55424 covers the eastern part of Edina. 

According to an employee at the Elmwood office, the issue is a lack of mail carriers. The office has been attempting to hire carriers for several weeks, and according to an employee at the office, the situation won’t be resolved until they’re able to bring them on.

“Yes, we are aware of the issues. We have job offers out every day, and nobody is taking them,” an employee at the Elmwood office said. 

One neighbor in the coverage area said the office hasn't been proactive or forthcoming with them about when mail will be late or not arrive at all, and that they only find out when it arrives (or not) at their door.

If you’re an enterprising individual who wants to help people get their mail on time, here’s a link where you can apply. The office is currently looking to hire two additional mail carriers.