What is the purpose of General Delivery?

General Delivery serves a specific purpose that aids individuals who may not have a permanent address, such as transients and those awaiting the arrival of a PO Box. This service allows them to receive their mail securely at a post office location until they are ready to pick it up. It is especially beneficial for people traveling or those in temporary living situations, providing a reliable way to receive important correspondence without needing a fixed address.

The other options, while they touch on various aspects of postal service functions, do not accurately reflect the intent behind General Delivery. Holding mail indefinitely is not an accurate description of the service, as there are time limits on how long mail can be held. Delivering packages directly to customers does not align with the General Delivery process, as the service is meant for holding mail, not direct deliveries. While processing mail faster is a goal of many postal services, it is unrelated to the specific purpose of General Delivery.