How the USPS can help you write to Santa this holiday season

The clock is ticking for families looking to send letters to Santa Claus at the North Pole this holiday season.

Letters must be postmarked by Monday, a U.S. Postal Service spokesperson confirmed to USA TODAY Thursday afternoon.

The letters can be sent as part of the Postal Service’s annual Operation Santa program, which allows children to write letters to Santa Claus and share their letters online, with personal information redacted.

Other Operation Santa participants can read the letters online, “adopt” them and have gifts sent to the individuals or families who wrote them, making their Christmas wishes come true, a Postal Service news release said.

Here’s how to write to Santa and, if you wish, accept a letter to ensure families get what they need and want this year.

What dates should I remember when writing to Santa Claus?

To ensure your letter gets to Santa, the post says it’s important to remember the following dates:

◾ Monday – Last day to send letters to Santa Claus.

◾ Dec 16 – Last day to accept letters before the website closes at 8:00 PM EST.

◾ Dec 16 – Santa’s Gift Shoppe is closing.

How can I send my letter to Santa Claus?

Individuals and families wishing to write to Santa will need a First Class stamp, envelope and paper to write their letters. The Postal Service has also provided downloadable templates that people can use when writing to Santa.

The Postal Service said those registering should provide details about the items on their Christmas list, including game and book titles, sizes, colors and more. The more details they contain, the easier it will be for letter users to shop.

Letters should be postmarked and mailed to the following address by Monday, December 9th:

Santa Claus

123 Eleven Road

North Pole, 88888

While the Postal Service does not send receipts to confirm that letters have been delivered or read, the letters may end up on the agency’s website, and “letters are often accepted as quickly as they are uploaded,” the Postal Service said.

Other tips noted by the Postal Service include:

◾ Registering families should combine all letters in one envelope and include additional stamps depending on weight.

◾ Organizations or classes should mail all letters individually in standard-sized envelopes, each with a First Class stamp.

◾ Avoid including 3D artwork.

For the full overview of Writing to Santa, visit www.uspsoperationsanta.com/getinvolved.

How can I accept a letter and help families?

To accept a letter, go to www.uspsoperationsanta.com, create an account and verify your identity and address.

Then click on “Accept letter”.

Operation Santa’s website allows adopters to filter letters by state, language and family size. Once adopters find letters they would like to adopt, they can click the “Adopt” button and begin the process.

If you order through the shop, the post office will take care of the packaging and shipping. Orders over $49 placed through Santa’s Gift Shoppe will receive free shipping, the Postal Service said.

If you would like to send packages yourself, you can do so, the post office said.

How did Operation Santa start and what’s new this year?

Operation Santa was created in 1912 when the post office began receiving letters addressed to Santa Claus.

Workers sorted the letters and set them aside, prompting postmaster Frank Hitchcock to create the first Santa Claus mailroom. Local postmasters then began opening the letters and responding, the postal service wrote on its website, reporting the birth of the Christmas tradition.

Now, 112 years later, anyone in the continental U.S., Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands can participate, and the Postal Service has announced a new feature that promises to make it easier to support families writing to Santa.

The Postal Service has launched an online catalog called Santa’s Gift Shoppe where mail users can make purchases as part of Operation Santa.

The Postal Service said in its news release that Santa’s Gift Shoppe is a team effort with toy retail giant Toys “R” Us. In the online catalog, Operation Santa participants can find Toys “R” Us toys and gifts that can then be sent by mail.

“We’re excited to offer generous people an easier way to make a difference,” said Sheila Holman, vice president of marketing for the Postal Service, in the release. “With the launch of this new e-commerce platform, we are making it easier than ever to fulfill desires and spread holiday cheer.”

The Postal Service hopes to expand its online catalog to include clothing, shoes, books and more. The Operation Santa show will also appear in a new season of Dear Santa, The Series on ABC-owned television networks and Hulu.

Letters submitted this year can be read or accepted at www.uspsoperationsanta.com/letters, while Santa’s Gift Shoppe can be found at www.tinyurl.com/USPSGifts.

Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY’s NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Follow her on Twitter at@SaleenMartin or send her an email at[email protected].

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