UPDATE: The United States Postal Service (USPS) has just announced that families can now participate in two festive activities: writing letters to Santa and joining the annual Operation Santa program. With a cold and cloudy weekend ahead, there’s no better time to engage your kids in a heartwarming holiday tradition!
Families are encouraged to have their children write letters to Santa Claus at the North Pole. To ensure a magical experience, USPS recommends mailing these letters by Monday, December 1, to guarantee a response postmarked from the North Pole. Here’s how to do it:
1. Your child writes a letter to Santa and places it in an envelope addressed to “Santa Claus, North Pole.”
2. Discreetly write a personalized response from Santa, being sure to disguise your handwriting if needed.
3. Place both letters into an envelope addressed to your child.
4. Add a return address: “Santa, North Pole,” and affix a First Class stamp ($0.78).
5. Mail it all in a larger envelope with postage to: North Pole Postmark, Postmaster, 4141 Postmark Dr., Anchorage, AK 99530-9998.
For the best experience, write Santa’s response on the back of your child’s letter to remind them of what they wished for. Personal touches, such as mentioning their activities in 2025, can make the response feel even more special.
In addition, Operation Santa is officially open! This philanthropic initiative allows individuals, families, and workplace teams to adopt letters from children in need, ensuring that every child experiences the joy of receiving gifts during the holidays. Here’s how to get involved:
1. Visit USPSOperationSanta.com and create a login to verify your identity.
2. Browse letters from families across the country and adopt those that resonate with you.
3. Shop for gifts through USPS’s Santa’s Gift Shoppe or your own sources.
4. Ship your gift using the online catalog or directly from a Post Office location.
For teams looking to adopt family letters, one person can create a group and invite others to fulfill the letters together. It’s crucial that all letters from a family are adopted, so team leaders can also claim any unassigned letters to ensure full support.
This year, USPS has partnered with Toys “R” Us to expand its Santa’s Gift Shoppe, which offers free shipping on orders over $49. Gifts should be shipped by Saturday, December 13, to ensure timely delivery.
Sheila Holman, USPS Vice President of Marketing, noted in a press release that the program consistently receives “far more letters than those adopting.” This year marks an opportunity for generous individuals to bring joy to families in need during the holiday season.
Operation Santa has been a cherished tradition since 1912, when it was established by former Postmaster General Frank Hitchcock. Families worldwide are encouraged to take part in these beloved traditions, ensuring that the spirit of giving remains alive this holiday season.
Don’t miss out on the chance to create magical memories and spread holiday cheer—join Operation Santa or write to Santa today!
