UPDATE: The United States Postal Service (USPS) has just announced the launch of its beloved Operation Santa, inviting families and individuals to participate in spreading holiday cheer. With a cold and cloudy weekend ahead, parents are encouraged to have their children write letters to Santa, making this an ideal indoor activity.
If you want to ensure your child receives a personalized response from Santa, follow these steps carefully. First, gather two writing instruments and two envelopes—one large enough to hold the other. Here’s how to get started:
1. **Have your child write their letter to Santa** and place it in an envelope addressed to “Santa Claus, North Pole.”
2. **Disguise your handwriting** and craft a personalized response from Santa. Sign it “From Santa.”
3. Insert both letters into an envelope addressed to your child.
4. Add the return address: “Santa, North Pole.”
5. Affix a First Class stamp (currently $0.78) to the envelope.
6. Finally, place the completed envelope into a larger envelope with the proper postage to: North Pole Postmark, Postmaster, 4141 Postmark Dr., Anchorage, AK 99530-9998.
To receive a response from Santa with a North Pole postmark, USPS recommends mailing these letters by Monday, December 1.
In addition to writing letters, families can participate in Operation Santa, a program that allows individuals to adopt letters and gift items to those in need. This year, USPS is making it easier for families to adopt letters together. Here’s how to get involved:
1. Visit USPSOperationSanta.com to create a login and verify your identity.
2. Browse letters from all around the country.
3. Adopt letters that resonate with you, including family letters.
4. Choose gifts through the USPS Santa’s Gift Shoppe or find your own.
5. Ship your gifts either online or from your local Post Office.
For those looking to adopt family letters, one person can create a team, inviting friends, family, or coworkers to help fulfill them. Every letter in a family must be adopted, and the team leader can monitor unclaimed letters to ensure full coverage for the family.
Notably, Santa’s Gift Shoppe has expanded this year, thanks to a partnership with Toys “R” Us, allowing adopters to send gifts directly from an enhanced online catalog. This option includes free shipping on orders over $49, saving a trip to the Post Office while ensuring gifts arrive on time.
IMPORTANT: To guarantee that gifts arrive before the holidays, make sure to ship them by Saturday, December 13.
In a recent press release, Sheila Holman, USPS Vice President of Marketing, emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “Each year the agency receives far more letters than those adopting.” Operation Santa has a rich history, originating in 1912 under Postmaster General Frank Hitchcock.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to bring joy to children and families across the country. Start writing those letters and making a difference today!
