Posted December 14, 2020 2:34 p.m. EST By India Duke, Cox Newspapers DAYTON, Ohio -- Carriers are encouraging gift givers to ship their packages this week to ensure delivery before Christmas Day. The holiday season is already a bustling time of year, but with the number of people opting to shop online, COVID-19 impacts and the possibility of bad weather, carriers with FedEx, UPS and the USPS are hiring extra help and extending hours to ensure all packages are delivered before the holiday. "Online shopping and shipping volumes this holiday season are expected to break records. The exponential growth of e-commerce, underscored by the COVID-19 pandemic, will continue during the 2020 holiday season, with more packages hitting our network than ever before," said FedEx communications advisor Heather Wilson.