A third of all Royalties from The Saint of Carrington books help Grant Children's Wishes at Operation Santa!
About Operation Santa
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THE SURPRISING HISTORY OF OPERATION SANTA
The Postal Service began receiving letters to Santa Claus more than 100 years ago. However, its involvement was made official when, in 1912, Postmaster General Frank Hitchcock authorized local Postmasters to allow postal employees and citizens to respond to the ever growing number of letters received every year at Christmas. In the 1940s, mail volume for Santa increased so much so that the Postal Service extended the same invitation to charitable organizations, community groups and corporations to help respond to children who wrote letters to Santa. New York City’s Operation Santa serves as the largest public adoption Post Office in the country. It has become a “Big Apple” tradition that has changed very little since the 1940s and continues to thrive in the heart of the Manhattan, much to the delight of those who visit the iconic James A. Farley building, which was the post office that appeared in the original Miracle on 34th Street during the iconic scene where postal workers decided to send Santa his mail. |
THE SURPRISING HISTORY OF OPERATION SANTA
The Postal Service began receiving letters to Santa Claus more than 100 years ago. However, its involvement was made official when, in 1912, Postmaster General Frank Hitchcock authorized local Postmasters to allow postal employees and citizens to respond to the ever growing number of letters received every year at Christmas. In the 1940s, mail volume for Santa increased so much so that the Postal Service extended the same invitation to charitable organizations, community groups and corporations to help respond to children who wrote letters to Santa. New York City’s Operation Santa serves as the largest public adoption Post Office in the country. It has become a “Big Apple” tradition that has changed very little since the 1940s and continues to thrive in the heart of the Manhattan, much to the delight of those who visit the iconic James A. Farley building, which was the post office that appeared in the original Miracle on 34th Street during the iconic scene where postal workers decided to send Santa his mail.
The Postal Service began receiving letters to Santa Claus more than 100 years ago. However, its involvement was made official when, in 1912, Postmaster General Frank Hitchcock authorized local Postmasters to allow postal employees and citizens to respond to the ever growing number of letters received every year at Christmas. In the 1940s, mail volume for Santa increased so much so that the Postal Service extended the same invitation to charitable organizations, community groups and corporations to help respond to children who wrote letters to Santa. New York City’s Operation Santa serves as the largest public adoption Post Office in the country. It has become a “Big Apple” tradition that has changed very little since the 1940s and continues to thrive in the heart of the Manhattan, much to the delight of those who visit the iconic James A. Farley building, which was the post office that appeared in the original Miracle on 34th Street during the iconic scene where postal workers decided to send Santa his mail.
OVER ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF GIVING
The Postal Service — then the Post Office Department — began receiving letters to Santa Claus more than 100 years ago. In 1912 Postmaster General Frank Hitchcock authorized local Postmasters to allow postal employees and citizens to respond to the letters — a program that eventually became known as Operation Santa. In the 1940s, mail volume for Santa increased so much that the Postal Service invited charitable organizations and corporations to participate by providing written responses and small gifts. Through the years, the program grew and took on a life of its own. Today, customers can go online to browse through the letters and adopt them to help those children experience the magical of the season.
The mission of USPS Operation Santa is to provide a channel where people can give back and help children & families have a magical holiday when they otherwise might not — one letter to Santa at a time.
In 2020, the US Postal Service celebrates the 108th anniversary of the Operation Santa program as it continues to fulfill the dreams of children nationwide. More than one hundred years later, US Postal employees, volunteers and organizations remain committed to making children’s Christmas wishes come true.
The Postal Service — then the Post Office Department — began receiving letters to Santa Claus more than 100 years ago. In 1912 Postmaster General Frank Hitchcock authorized local Postmasters to allow postal employees and citizens to respond to the letters — a program that eventually became known as Operation Santa. In the 1940s, mail volume for Santa increased so much that the Postal Service invited charitable organizations and corporations to participate by providing written responses and small gifts. Through the years, the program grew and took on a life of its own. Today, customers can go online to browse through the letters and adopt them to help those children experience the magical of the season.
The mission of USPS Operation Santa is to provide a channel where people can give back and help children & families have a magical holiday when they otherwise might not — one letter to Santa at a time.
In 2020, the US Postal Service celebrates the 108th anniversary of the Operation Santa program as it continues to fulfill the dreams of children nationwide. More than one hundred years later, US Postal employees, volunteers and organizations remain committed to making children’s Christmas wishes come true.
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A Little Piece of History New York City’s USPS Operation Santa program is the largest in the country. It’s a “Big Apple” tradition that has changed very little since the 1940s and one that continues to thrive in the heart of Manhattan, much to the delight of those who visit the iconic James A. Farley building where the mail room scene of the original version of "Miracle on 34th Street" was filmed.
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THE OPERATION of OPERATION SANTA
The Postal Service has Operation Santa sites in action around the country. In the vast number of locations postal employees respond to the letters by providing a written response signed by Santa, while other Post Offices may work with local schools, municipalities and community groups who volunteer for the joyous task. Each year, however, in select Post Offices the general public is invited to “adopt” Santa letters. In all locations where the public may adopt letters written to Santa, strict privacy guidelines are in place and priority is given to letters from children living in underprivileged neighborhoods. Any member of the public who adopts a child's letter may simply respond in writing or, if they choose, grant the child's wish. The decision is left to the individual. |
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HOW IT WORKS (Privacy guidelines)
In 2006, national policy guidelines were created regarding the handling and adoption of letters addressed to Santa. These guidelines were designed to protect the children who wrote to Santa and mandated that individuals wishing to adopt letters must do so in person, present valid photo identification and fill out a form that includes the list of letters being adopted. The Postal Service blacks out all reference to the child’s address and assigns the letter a number. Individuals interested in adopting letters go to the post office, select the letter(s) and sign an official form. When the individual has fulfilled the child’s wishes, they return to the same post office with the letter and/or gift for mailing. A postal employee weighs the package and the individual pays for the postage (a Priority Mail Flat Rate box could be used). Then a postal employee matches the number on the letter with the child’s address, prints and applies a label to the package and readies it for delivery. The individual never has access to the mailing address.
THE GIFT OF CARING
Children of all ages send letters to “Santa Claus, North Pole, Alaska” every year. Unless these letters contain a complete Alaska address, the letters will remain in the area they were mailed. Where available, these letters are routed to the nearest post office that coordinates responses, often in postal administrative sites like District Offices. As time and resources permit, these offices help provide a written response to letters bearing a complete return address. While responses are not promised, the Postal Service understands that a letter to Santa is often a child’s first written correspondence. In this way, the Postal Service helps to promote literacy and letter writing. And through the seasonal outreach of Operation Santa, they can reach many more children, embrace the true spirit if Christmas and help make wishes come true.
In 2006, national policy guidelines were created regarding the handling and adoption of letters addressed to Santa. These guidelines were designed to protect the children who wrote to Santa and mandated that individuals wishing to adopt letters must do so in person, present valid photo identification and fill out a form that includes the list of letters being adopted. The Postal Service blacks out all reference to the child’s address and assigns the letter a number. Individuals interested in adopting letters go to the post office, select the letter(s) and sign an official form. When the individual has fulfilled the child’s wishes, they return to the same post office with the letter and/or gift for mailing. A postal employee weighs the package and the individual pays for the postage (a Priority Mail Flat Rate box could be used). Then a postal employee matches the number on the letter with the child’s address, prints and applies a label to the package and readies it for delivery. The individual never has access to the mailing address.
THE GIFT OF CARING
Children of all ages send letters to “Santa Claus, North Pole, Alaska” every year. Unless these letters contain a complete Alaska address, the letters will remain in the area they were mailed. Where available, these letters are routed to the nearest post office that coordinates responses, often in postal administrative sites like District Offices. As time and resources permit, these offices help provide a written response to letters bearing a complete return address. While responses are not promised, the Postal Service understands that a letter to Santa is often a child’s first written correspondence. In this way, the Postal Service helps to promote literacy and letter writing. And through the seasonal outreach of Operation Santa, they can reach many more children, embrace the true spirit if Christmas and help make wishes come true.
YOUR PURCHASE of THE SAINT OF CARRINGTON in bookstores and online will HELP a CHILD'S CHRISTMAS WISH COME TRUE, but if you'd like to become one of Santa's Assistants, read on!
HOW TO ADOPT A LETTER TO MAKE A CHILD'S WISH COME TRUE
HERE'S HOW IT WORKSOperation Santa allows children and families to write letters to Santa, which are then processed and shared online beginning on December 4 at USPSOperationSanta.com. Once the letters are live, anyone in the US can go online and adopt a letter, and help make a child or family's holiday wishes come true.
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An "I Helped Santa" sticker comes with your Welcome Packet when you register to become on e of Santa's Helpers at Operation Santa.
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The locations may change from year to year so be sure to check the Operation Santa Website!
I'm often asked, "What if I don't have the funds to purchase gifts? Is there another way to help?" Yes!
Hey Moms & Dads, Grandparents & Guardians, did you know...If you personally know a child who is sending a letter to Santa, you can write a response as Santa and have the US Postal Service deliver it as if it came from the North Pole, complete with a special North Pole postmark.
Here's How...
NORTH POLE POSTMARK POSTMASTER 4141 POSTMARK DR ANCHORAGE AK 99530-9998 PS: A letter simply addressed to "Santa, North Pole" will not go to the postmaster in Anchorage, Alaska. It will end up in a default area for mail without a complete address and then be sorted back into the Operation Santa program, where a postal worker or member of the public can respond.
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★Whether or not you celebrate Christmas, making a child feel special is a wonderful way to finish out the year.★
