USPS Is Recruiting Santa's Helpers In NYC

NEW YORK CITY — As basic living costs including for food, gas and other necessities rise across the United States, coupled with the continuing pressures of COVID-19, the holidays are going to be bleak for some New Yorkers. Many children could wake up Christmas morning to find Santa missed their homes altogether.

It’s a heartbreaking realization for any parent or child, especially as families continue to recover from the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

But the U.S. Postal Service is helping New Yorkers help make the holidays a little merrier and brighter for families who may be experiencing financial hardship.

For the second consecutive year, the Postal Service is taking its Operation Santa program nationwide. The program, which dates back to 1912, encourages kids from across the country to write letters to Santa.

Once the letters are received and posted online, others are encouraged to “adopt” and respond to one or more letters of their choosing. Adopting a letter typically means fulfilling one or more requests on the child’s wish list.

Letters requesting clothes and shoes should include sizes and colors. Those requesting toys, games and books should be specific.

How To Mail A Letter

1) Any family with a child who wants to write to Santa should use this “official” post office address:

• Santa Claus, 123 Elf Road, North Pole, 88888

2) Write your full name and return address in the upper left corner of the envelope. Then, apply a first-class stamp and mail it.

3) Letters will be posted to the USPSOperationSanta.com website. Letter adoptions are open now and will continue through Dec. 22.

5) All letters must be postmarked Dec. 10 or earlier. Once letters are received, they will be posted online through Dec. 15 and will be available for adoption through Dec. 22. The sooner your letter is received, the more likely it is to be answered.

More details on writing and adopting letters through the Operation Santa program can be found at USPSOperationSanta.com.