Postal Service Launches 2021 Operation Santa Program

The U.S. Postal Service has begun accepting letters to Santa Claus, as well as seeking “elves” to help fulfill the wishes of children, under the 109th “Operation Santa” program, officials said.

Letters to the North Pole must be postmarked by Dec. 10 to be considered for adoption by a volunteer, the USPS said in a written statement. Those wishing to adopt a letter anonymously and try to fulfill childrens’ holiday wishes can sign up online at uspsoperationsanta.com.

The letters should include the childrens’ full return arrest, affixed with a first-class mail Forever stamp and sent to Santa Claus at 123 Elf Road, North Pole, 88888.

“It is entirely up to the letter writer as to what appears on their wish list. But the more specific writers are with sizes, colors, styles, favorite authors, book titles, toys, etc., the better chance their wishes will be granted if their letter is adopted,” according to the statement.

Santa’s helpers at the USPS open the letters and remove personal identifiable information before submitting them to the Operation Santa website for adoption, organizers said. There is no guarantee letters will be adopted.

“For security reasons, all potential adopters must be vetted through a short registration and ID verification process before they can adopt any letter,” the USPS statement added.

Operation Santa began in 1912, when then-Postmaster General Frank Hitchcock first authorized postmasters and other postal employees to respond to customers’ letters to Santa.

“That simple act of kindness has led to a very successful holiday program benefitting deserving kids and families throughout the United States,” the statement said.

More information is available on the program website at uspsoperationsanta.com.