USPS Operation Santa: Will You Be a Secret Santa for a Child in Need?

Operation Santa

• The United States Postal Service (USPS) is once again getting in the holiday spirit with its Operation Santa campaign, which matches letters from kids with strangers willing to gift random acts of kindness.

• Letters addressed to Santa are available for "adoption" by big-hearted people who send the requested gifts to the USPS. The postal service then distributes the gift to the letter writer. All personal and identifying information is redacted before the letters are published. 
• USPS receives over 10,000 letters per year. Letter adoption begins on November 20th and ends on December 18th. 
• You can read and adopt the letters here, or write to Santa here. And, find the full details of the program and how to participate in the USPS's Operation Santa FAQ section here. 
• The USPS wrote in a press release:

"The program relies solely on random acts of kindness and the generosity of strangers. It allows people to help children and families have a magical holiday when they otherwise might not — safely and securely."

Where it all started

• What we now call Operation Santa started over 100 years ago, when the USPS began to receive letters addressed to Santa. In 1912, Postmaster General Frank Hitchcock created Santa's first mailroom, allowing employees to read and respond to the letters. In 1940, the program went public. Residents and organizations across the country all participated. 
• The digital iteration of the program was launched in 2017, and became widely popular in 2020.
• The USPS wrote:

"Thanks to the generosity of adopters all over the U.S., the USPS Operation Santa program delivers joy to more doorsteps every year, making holiday wishes come true."

Help make a child's Christmas dream come true with USPS' Operation Santa.

—Emma Kansiz & Jamie Epstein

 (Photo credit: IStock/FatCamera)