US Postal Service -- Operation Santa

[IowaGirl]

I didn't know about the Operation Santa program by the US Postal Service until today. The basic idea is people can write letters to Santa -- he has his own official address! -- and other people can view the letters online and send a card or even a gift to a letter writer.

I thought maybe others would enjoy hearing about this program as a way of spreading cheer.

"...The Postal Service says children have been mailing letters to Santa for 108 years, and agency employees and nonprofits helped pen responses for many of those years. In 2017, the mail service launched a gift-donation campaign in New York to allow volunteers to contribute gifts and lighten Santa’s rounds on Christmas Eve. The online program expanded to 17 cities in 2019. This year, for the first time, gift-givers can send presents from anywhere in the country....

"The Postal Service redacts all personal identifying information before uploading the letters to the Operation Santa website, where they will be searchable by state starting Dec. 4. “Elves” or folks interested in adopting a letter, can register online with the Postal Service, then mail the gifts. Last year, more than 11,000 packages were mailed in response to letters to Santa Claus...." Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/busin...s-coronavirus/

Here is the best way to write to Santa according to the USPS --

1. Santa’s mailing address should be placed in the middle of the envelope. Letters can be addressed simply to SANTA CLAUS, but we prefer his official Postal Service address:
   
   SANTA CLAUS
   123 ELF ROAD
   NORTH POLE 88888
2. Write your full name and address in the upper left corner.
3. Then, apply a first-class stamp in the upper right.

For letter writers: Letters requesting clothes and shoes should include sizes and colors. Letters requesting toys, games and books should be specific.

These letters will populate the USPSOperationSanta.com website, which opens for letter adoption on Friday, Dec. 4.

For adopters: Customers are encouraged to go online and adopt a letter to help a child or family have a happy holiday when they otherwise might not.

There will be no in-person letter adoptions this year due to COVID-19.

Letters received before Dec. 15 will be uploaded and made available for adoption, though the sooner your letter is received, the more likely it is to be answered.

[SmokingSteve]

Cool! I believe I may be feeling adoptive. Thanks for the info IowaGirl !

[HawkerXP]

Thanks!

[Texas Larry]

Nice! Thank you.

[barelfly]

Thank you for sharing this! We usually will get set up with a giving tree each year as well as Make a Wish. I don’t think those are happening this year, so this will be a nice way to give back.

Thanks again!

[SonOfAButcher]

I retired from the USPS after 42 years, and I can tell you that we took the Santa mail very seriously, and the volume was huge! It really helps folks who are struggling...