URBANA — Some folks don't just use the post office. They actually have feelings for it.

Take Margrith Mistry, for example, who is pained by the thought that Station "A" at Third and Green streets in Champaign might close.

"I love Station 'A.' It's my post office. How can you even think of closing it?" Mistry said Tuesday at a meeting the U.S. Postal Service held to gauge reaction to the possible closings of Station "A" and the University Station in Altgeld Hall.

"I go to India. I go to Europe. I wish they'd treat me with that kind of courtesy (I get at Station 'A')," she said.

About 40 people came for the outset of the 90-minute meeting at the Illini Union, and by meeting's end, more than 20 had spoken. All opposed the closing of one station or the other — or both.

Several noted that many University of Illinois students don't have cars, making it difficult to get to other post offices.

Some UI staff members said they rode the bus to campus, making it hard to get to off-campus post offices during the day.

Champaign City Council member Mike LaDue, who uses Station "A" five days a week, said both campus stations serve a large population of foreign students, many of whom have no access to cars.

"They have a lifeline to their native homes through Station 'A' or Altgeld," LaDue said.

Elizabeth Weiss of Urbana, a wheelchair user who recently retired after working for the UI for 24 years, called Station "A" the "most convenient, accommodating and accessible" post office locally.

"I'd really be up a creek if Station 'A' weren't there," she said.

Scott Fraundorf, a graduate student, said he stays late on campus to work on research or help undergraduates. When he leaves about 8 or 9 p.m., other post offices are closed, so he stops at campus stations during the day.

"I can't go to Neil or Mattis. I don't know what I'd do without both (campus) stations," he said.

Mark Cowan, a post office box holder at Station "A," said he runs a mail-order business and prices every item he sends. He generally finds the postal service is his best option — as long as it maintains convenience.

"If it becomes a hassle, it's not that much more expensive to ship it UPS," he said.

Employees at both stations were commended for friendliness and helpfulness.

Andrew Taylor, a Naval officer who is an undergraduate at the UI, said he has lived in other states and countries and never found postal employees friendlier than the ones at Station "A."

He said the Postal Service is locking itself out of a large market if it moves services off campus.

UI employee Mary Laws said she uses Station "A" three to four times a week to ship educational materials.

"It's without a doubt packed every time I come in," she said.

Mike Pfundstein, manager of post office operations in the Champaign area, said there's a 60-day comment period on possible closure of the stations. After an initial decision is issued, there will be a 120-day appeals period.

He urged people to take advantage of the appeals process. He said no appeals were filed for Piatt County's Milmine post office, which will close at the end of the month.

Pfundstein said if there are no appeals, the Postal Regulatory Commission may get the impression no one cares.

The Postal Service is studying the possible closure of 3,700 post offices and postal stations across the country, because of a projected $10 billion deficit by the end of this fiscal year.

More than 30 post offices in East Central Illinois are among those, and Pfundstein said he has attended about 20 meetings so far on proposed closings.

Attendance at those meetings has ranged from eight to 58, with Brocton in Edgar County drawing the most people and Indianola in Vermilion County also attracting a crowd.

In the town of Vermilion, in eastern Edgar County, a 92-year-old woman told Pfundstein it was the third time the Postal Service had tried to close that post office.

"We beat you twice, and we're going to beat you again," she told him.

Pfundstein said he's "neutral" on each closing and eager for patrons to express themselves.

In addition to returning postal surveys, Pfundstein suggested that people write letters expressing their feelings to the Gateway District office in St. Louis or to the Postal Regulatory Commission in Washington.