USPS Operation Santa

For more than a century, children have shared their Christmas wishes through a cherished holiday tradition — writing letters to Santa Claus. What began in the 19th century as letters from Saint Nick to children has evolved into a national program connecting families in need with generous volunteers each holiday season.

In the earliest days of the tradition, children received letters from Santa encouraging good behavior or obedience to their parents. Before the Civil War, mail service was limited and costly, so early letters were often left by the fireplace rather than sent through the postal system.

As the U.S. mail network expanded, families began mailing their letters to Santa — though for decades, these letters were sent to the “Dead Letter Office,” as carriers were not permitted to open or respond to them. That changed in 1912, when Postmaster General Frank Hitchcock authorized local postmasters to open and answer the letters, launching what became known as the Operation Santa Initiative.

The program grew steadily, and by the 1940s, charitable groups, corporations, and community volunteers joined in to help respond to the growing flood of holiday letters. In 2019, Operation Santa went online, allowing people across the country to adopt letters and send gifts digitally.

Now celebrating 110 years, the USPS Operation Santa program continues to bring joy to thousands of children each Christmas. In 2022 alone, more than 25,000 letters were adopted by individuals, corporations, and nonprofits nationwide.

How the Program Works

Children can mail their letters to: Santa Claus, 123 Elf Road, North Pole, 88888

Letters must include the child’s name, full return address, and holiday wishes. They should be postmarked by December 6 to ensure arrival in time for adoption.

Starting November 17, volunteers can visit the USPS Operation Santa website to read and adopt letters. After creating an account, adopters can browse letters—filtering by region if desired—and send gifts directly to children whose letters they’ve chosen.

For complete details, including how to adopt a letter or family, write to Santa, or view online shopping catalogs, visit USPSOperationSanta.com.