Nafi' (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) used to send the Sadaqat al-Fitr to the person with whom it was collected, two or three days before Eid al-Fitr.
Hadith Referenceالسنن الكبرى للبيهقي / كتاب الزكاة / 7369