“Ho Ho Ho!”
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Christmas time is one of my favorite times of year. The wonder and awe of the Christmas lights, the sounds of Christmas music playing, the smell of pine trees, all filling my senses. I remember when I was a child, the excitement of writing letters to Santa to tell him what I wanted, a new doll, a big teddy bear, my fingers crossed that I didn’t get any coal. But I remember worrying about where I could send my letter! Would the post office know how to get to the North Pole? Did they have reindeer who took the letters from all the children? If my letter didn’t make it, how would he know what I wanted?
Well, little did I know that the Post Office has it all handled. And the magic USPS provides is more than I ever thought.
USPS – Operation Santa
Operation Santa started in 1912, when Postmaster General Frank Hitchcock authorized local postmasters to allow employees and citizens to respond to letters addressed to Santa Claus. Over the years, the operation grew and grew in not only popularity but in numbers. It went from simply replying to a child’s letter, to an online program that shipped packages and presents to children all over New York City. In 2020, the program went from the few pilot states to nationwide. Letters are accepted from every location, posted to the USPS Operation Santa site, with children’s personal information redacted, and the letters can then be adopted by generous people who can fulfill the child or families’ Christmas wishes.
How Does it Work? How Can You Participate?
First, write a letter to Santa! Let him know how your year has been, and whether you’ve been naughty or nice. (Be honest! He knows!) Be specific in your requests, the more detail, the more Santa knows what to bring you. Be sure to include your return address, making sure it’s clear and legible, so Santa knows where to send your gifts.
Address your Letter to Santa!
Santa Claus
123 Elf Road
North Pole 88888
Don’t forget the stamp and drop your letter off at your nearest Post Office.
If you don’t want to send a letter, and you would rather help make a child’s Christmas a little more magical, you can adopt a letter that was sent to Santa. Sign up on the USPS website, purchase one of the gifts on the letter of your choosing and mail it using a participating Post Office.
For more information, or to sign up for Operation Santa, Click Here!
