“Dear Santa, I love you,” begins Armik’s letter to the North Pole’s big guy.
“My mommy tries so hard to create Christmas for me and my sister. Would be nice if you could help her out a little.”
Tug. Tug. We’ve got this, fellow elves. Join me in reporting for duty, conjuring holiday magic and easing St. Nick’s onerous load.
Once upon a time you’d pick a tag with a family’s wish list from the company Christmas tree to spread this kind of holiday cheer, but who has an office anymore? The U.S. Postal Service’s Operation Santa — now in its 111th year — is like a digital version of that tree.
Search for letters that tug at your heartstrings at www.uspsoperationsanta.com/. Specify a state if you like, or search nationwide. Then “adopt” a letter (or several), do the retail therapy thing and pop the stuff into the U.S. mail. It’ll land with a return address from the North Pole itself.
Say what you will about the Postal Service and its $6.5 billion deficit. How does one pass up the opportunity to sprinkle this kind of magic at this time of year?
“The program relies solely on random acts of kindness and the generosity of strangers,” the Postal Service says. “It allows people to help children and families have a magical holiday when they otherwise might not — safely and securely.”
The letter from Maria spoke to me. “I work full time and am raising two of my grandkids who are 7 years old — twin boys,” she writes. “I am really struggling. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.”
Yes, you’ll find letters from kids who want the moon — expensive computers ($1,000+), PlayStations ($500), ride-on electric cars (start around $199) — but you’ll also find wishes for size 11 kids’ tennis shoes and warm pajamas and bedtime books to read because mom or dad is sick and can’t work and they’re trying to be good, so very very good!
These, as one participant said, melt your heart into a puddle.
Now, I was raised Catholic and am plagued by guilt, but you don’t have to fulfill expensive requests, the USPS says. “Hopeful as ever, kids do tend to wish big,” USPS says in its how-to helper guide. “But just hearing back from Santa is a win!”
I’m rooting for Mylin, who’s apparently following the footsteps of Hermey in “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Mylin wants a Melissa & Doug dentist kit (starts at $25), a mini sewing machine (starts at about $17) and lip balm for dry lips ($1).
Elf logistics
Letters to Santa will be accepted until Dec. 11. They go to Santa’s workshop at 123 Elf Road, North Pole 88888. The ones that can actually be deciphered, have legible return addresses and proper postage are opened, reviewed and posted online for action from us elves.
The last day to adopt letters is Dec. 18 — also the recommended deadline for getting packages in the mail so they arrive in time.
To adopt a letter, just register your vitals, including email address, at USPSOperationSanta.com. You’ll get an email. Click on the verification link. Voila! Your ears are pointy and you’re ready to roll.
Peruse letters, pick a couple, adopt them. You’ll get an email with a QR code for each letter you adopt, and you must have that code handy when you go to the post office to ship the gifts (no electronic skateboards, scooters, e-bikes, sparklers or perfume allowed!). Remember to print out the note from Santa and stick it in the package!
Mail gifts via Priority Mail (they don’t need to be in Priority Mail-branded boxes). You’ll have to pay the postage fees (USPS isn’t quite up to absorbing the bill just now, as first-class mail fell to the lowest volume since 1968).
So keep an eye on shipping costs. Postage is based on size, weight and distance. USPS recommends grabbing a Priority Mail Flat Rate box — free at your local post office — and taking it along when you shop. Buy only what fits in the box.
USPS recommends adopting a letter from your state or someplace nearby, or to consider a gift card — but that seems to lack pixie dust. If you do go that route, gift cards must be in a Priority Mail envelope at least 4 inches by 6 inches, to accommodate the North Pole shipping label.
And watch out for scammers. USPS warns that there are imitators out there, and any organization asking for money to adopt letters is in violation of the law. See detailed instructions from USPS here.
As the holiday season unfolds, you can watch the magic happen at #USPSOperationSanta on Facebook and X. Photos of beaming kids with their loot … elves complaining about shipping costs … parents wondering why their kids’ letters weren’t adopted.
In Operation Santa, as in life, not all wishes can be fulfilled. Me, I’m heading out to buy two pairs of size 12 shoes, two sets of size 6 pants and shirts, two police Lego sets, Hot Wheels and easy-reading books.
“Thank you Santa,” one of the letters says. “We will have cookies and milk on the counter for you and Mrs. Claus.”
