'Tis the season of Giving

When I saw this letter to santa that had been found on ljcfyi blog i laughed out loud. how can you not? i did some research on different letters to santa volunteer organizations and i came accross some other letters that had been published: there were tons of them some funny, some hysterical, and some that honestly made me want to cry. Here are two letters that were printed in "Real Simple" magazine this month:

• "Dear Santa Claus:
  I don't want to ask for you many things, but if you can please, aslo send us toys like Barbies, dolls, balls, cars, and color books to play with my mom and my friends, we will appreciate it."

• "Dear Santa Claus:
  I'm writing this letter to you because I need your help...My brother and I need clothes, sweater, shoes, and my mom need clothes and caots. We need a lot of things...we need sheets and towel."

Every year the Manhattan general post office recieves hundreds of thousands of letters addressed to Santa Claus just like these. Many of these letters come from needy children. The majority of the letters originated in the New York area, but many of them come from all over the nation and in some instances world. There are many organizations (for example: operation letter to santa), and volunteers that work to answer the requests of these children, but Manhattan's Operation Santa Claus program is by far the largest in the nation. Additionally, the Manhattan Genral Post Office hosts an annual holiday party for underprivledged children. Photos are posted on the USPS website: usps operation santa claus

Volunteers are welcome to pick up a letter in the lobby of the

James A. Farley Post Office

421 8th Ave

New York, NY

and send a gift directly to the child or family in need. If you don't live in the new york area check with your local post office to see if they coordinate one of it's own "Operation Santa Claus".

If they don't you can still respond to a child's letter by calling

877.840.0459

between December 1 & December 23

as volunteers will send you as many letters as you wish, although you won't be able to make specific requests.

One tip if you physically go to the post office to select your own letters is too look for zip codes that you know are in underprivledged areas. The letters sometimes include illustrations, are funny, cute, heartwarming, and alot of times heart breaking. It is a great cause, and it brings with it a lot of satisfaction.


If you would like to make a donation send checks (payable to Operation Santa) to:

Customer Relations Office

James A. Farley Building

Room 3023 421 Eighth Avenue

New York, NY

10199-9998

"real generosity toward the future lies in giving all to the present."

--albert camus, "the rebel"

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