The holiday season is in full swing, and children across the nation are gearing up for “the most wonderful time of the year.”
For those who still believe in the jolly old elf dressed in red, the United States Postal Service is preparing to be the middleman between kids sending letters to Santa and the North Pole ahead of the 2025 season.
But USPS and Santa need a little help. The postal service’s annual Operation Santa letter adoption program is underway, with a Dec. 13 deadline to send out packages to fulfill children’s Santa-letter wishes.
“We invite the public to join us in spreading holiday cheer by adopting a USPS Operation Santa letter,” USPS VP of Marketing Sheila Holman said in a statement on USPS’ website.
“Every year, we receive far more letters than those adopting. So if you have the means, we encourage you to adopt a letter.”
Letter adoptions went live Nov. 17 — meaning people all across the country have already been writing heartfelt letters to Santa.
You can browse the letters online, filtering by family size, language and state the child is from. You’ll see a scan of the actual letter, some written by parents on a child’s behalf, others written in a small child’s scribble with accompanying drawings.
When you adopt a letter, you agree to send a little something to its sender.
After you choose a letter, or even an entire family’s letters, you pick a gift from Santa’s Gift Shoppe to ship back to them.
Santa’s Gift Shoppe is a list of gift ideas that match the kinds of items people are asking for in their letters to Santa.
“Adopters can send gifts directly from the newly expanded online catalog, saving a trip to a Post Office location and keeping the experience seamless,” the release states.
Whether it’s a toy, a warm coat, or just something small to remind someone they matter — no gesture is too small.
It’s all done anonymously, like a secret holiday hug.
“We want to make it as easy as possible to participate,” Holman added.
“You can adopt single or family letters as a team, shop for the perfect gift quickly and easily online, and get it delivered directly from Santa’s Gift Shoppe, all from the comfort and convenience of home. And the best part is, the earlier you adopt, the sooner you can help make somebody’s holiday wish come true.”
Ship by Dec. 13 so the gift arrives in time for Christmas.
To adopt a letter, visit USPS Operation Santa.
