'Operation Santa’ Helps Santa Grant Wishes To Phoenix Kids

PHOENIX, AZ —Phoenix kids wanting to make requests from Santa now have the fast path to doing just that: Phoenix is among 15 cities in the U.S. taking part in “Operation Santa” letter writing this year. The operation enables community members read and “adopt” a child’s letter from Santa’s mailroom — and grant children their holiday wishes.

Helping Kids Write A Letter To Santa

What’s first? Children can write Santa a letter telling him their gift wishlist for Christmas. The letters should be postmarked no later than Dec. 14 and sent to a special address: 123 Elf Road, North Pole, 88888. The child should put their return address in the upper left corner and attach a first-class stamp too, then give details about each item requested in the letter, for example, ages and sizes. A sample envelope and letter stationery can be viewed and downloaded from the Operation Santa website.

At the special address, the United States Postal Service receives the letters and removes any personal information. The children’s letters are then posted online, where the public can see them and “adopt” a child’s (or family’s) list(s) to fulfill.

Adopters then send the Christmas presents, and the USPS delivers the special gifts to the child who asked for them. The adopters’ and children’s identities all remain anonymous.

And those who don’t celebrate Christmas can still participate in Operation Santa, as “USPS Operation Santa is about the spirit of giving during the holiday season – no matter what holiday you celebrate,” the USPS website explains.

Donations are not tax deductible, as the USPS is not a nonprofit organization.

What Adopters Need To Know

Operation Santa letters can be adopted on your own (now) or as a team (starting Dec. 4) through Dec. 20 by logging in to the USPS Operation Santa website, then choosing a child's letter. Next, shop for, wrap, pack, label and ship from a Phoenix participating post office no later than Dec. 21.

The USPS recommends adopting a letter to Santa that falls within your budgetary range. “You don’t have to purchase every gift requested. Even one makes a difference,” the USPS Operation Santa website says. However, when a family is adopted, at least one gift must be sent to each family member so no one feels forgotten by Santa. A note can also be included inside the packages, if the note’s signature is Santa’s.

It’s also recommended that adopters drop off their gifts at a participating post office themselves. If that’s not possible, the Adoption Confirmation Packet label must be on the package.

Adopters pay for shipping.

Fun Facts About Operation Santa

The USPS started Operation Santa in 1912, when local postmasters became authorized to open letters to Santa so that other postal employees could read and respond to them. As letters to Santa poured into the USPS in the 1940s, Operation Santa was opened to public participation by individuals, corporations and charitable organizations nationwide.

In 2017, Operation Santa was digitized and moved online, beginning in New York, to enable more potential adopters to participate. This year, Operation Santa expanded to allow any U.S. resident to adopt and fulfill a wish from any of the children in the 15 participating cities.

Other cities besides Phoenix whose kids can participate in Operation Santa letter writing this year include Austin; Baltimore; Boston; Chicago; Cleveland; Denver; Grand Rapids; Los Angeles; New York; Orlando; Philadelphia; Sacramento; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Washington, D.C.