State Representative Ryan Spain (il) | Representative Ryan Spain (R) 73rd District Deputy Republican Leader
State Representative Ryan Spain (il) | Representative Ryan Spain (R) 73rd District Deputy Republican Leader
The holiday season often brings opportunities for joy and generosity, and the United States Postal Service (USPS) has been contributing to this spirit through its Operation Santa program for over a century. The USPS receives thousands of letters addressed to Santa Claus each year, prompting the creation of Operation Santa, which allows people to adopt and respond to these letters.
Operation Santa dates back to 1912 when Postmaster General Frank Hitchcock authorized local postmasters to reply to letters addressed to Santa. Initially, postal employees responded, bringing holiday cheer to children facing difficult circumstances. By the 1940s, due to an increase in letter volume, the program expanded to include public participation. Individuals, businesses, and organizations could join by adopting letters and providing gifts.
For many years, participation was limited to select cities where adopters picked up letters at designated post offices. In 2017, USPS launched a digital pilot in New York City, allowing online letter selection for the first time. This initiative expanded in 2018 and became nationwide by 2019, enabling more widespread involvement from home.
Today, interested participants can visit USPSOperationSanta.com to browse hundreds of letters while keeping personal details confidential. Adopters can connect with families through these heartfelt messages and experience the joy of giving.
Participating is straightforward: anyone can write a letter regardless of religious beliefs or background. Volunteers register on the website and undergo verification before selecting which letters they wish to fulfill. They are responsible for fulfilling requests and covering shipping costs.
Corporations also participate by forming teams that adopt multiple letters, creating significant community impacts. In 2020 alone, after going fully online nationwide, over a million people visited the site with more than 21,000 packages shipped.
The program has touched millions of lives over the years and inspired a documentary titled "Dear Santa," released in 2020. The film showcases stories behind the letters and highlights how kindness impacts children's holiday experiences.
For more information on participating or adopting a letter, visit USPS Operation Santa's website.
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