DeKalb Times

The holiday season brings an opportunity for generosity, and the United States Postal Service (USPS) has been facilitating this through its Operation Santa program for over a century. This initiative allows individuals to adopt letters addressed to Santa Claus and respond with gifts, making dreams come true for many children.

The program began in 1912 when Postmaster General Frank Hitchcock permitted local postmasters to answer these letters. Initially, postal employees took on the task of responding, spreading holiday cheer to children in difficult situations. By the 1940s, the program expanded to involve the public, inviting individuals, businesses, and organizations to participate by adopting letters and providing gifts.

Initially limited to certain cities where adopters would collect letters at post offices, USPS launched a digital pilot in New York City in 2017. The success of this initiative led to its expansion across more cities in 2018 and nationwide availability by 2019. This online system allows people from all over the country to participate from their homes.

Interested adopters can visit USPSOperationSanta.com to browse hundreds of letters while keeping personal details confidential. Participants must register on the website and complete a verification process before selecting which letter or letters they wish to fulfill. Adopters are responsible for fulfilling requests and covering shipping costs.

Corporations and organizations also join in by forming teams that adopt multiple letters, creating significant community impacts. In 2020, over a million visitors accessed the Operation Santa website nationwide, resulting in more than 21,000 packages shipped.

The program's influence has extended beyond just gifts; it inspired a documentary titled "Dear Santa," released in 2020. The film offers insights into the stories behind these letters and showcases the generosity involved.

To learn more about participating or adopting a letter, visit USPS Operation Santa online.