KENTUCKY (FOX 56) – Every holiday season, many children grab a pen and paper and spell out their Christmas wishes.

But have you ever wondered where those stamped envelopes go?

The U.S. Postal Service said it receives thousands of letters addressed to Santa Claus each year. In 1912, these letters were reserved for employees to respond to. It evolved into what we now know as the USPS’s Operation Santa.

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Now everyone can grant a child’s Christmas wish.

According to the program, postal workers scan letters to Santa every day and upload them for the public to read. The letters can then be “adopted” by sending a gift and a message from Santa in return.

Hundreds of letters from Kentucky children have already been entered into the database and will either break or warm your heart.

“I love you, Santa Claus,” said many Kentucky children as they said goodbye.

“My mom is the most important person in my life,” one letter says. “She had a stroke and almost died; I just want her to get better.”

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“PS: Give Mrs. Claus a hug for me,” another added.

Monday is the last day to mail a letter to the program, as December 16th is the mailing deadline to ensure gifts are delivered by Christmas morning.

More information about adopting a letter can be found here.

Click here to see what Kentucky kids want.

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