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Letters to Santa make holidays special
Article published on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2005 |
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. And he writes letters.
In 1912, then Postmaster General Frank Hitchcock authorized local postmasters to allow individuals or institutions to use letters addressed to Santa Claus for philanthropic purposes. This tradition is carried on today, with Post Offices across the country making "Letters to Santa" available to individuals and groups upon request.
While Santa receives most of his mail at the North Pole, AK, some are sent to Santa's helpers, charitable organizations, Postal Service employees and volunteers who help make a child's wishes come true. Interested organizations should contact their local Post Offices to receive and respond to Letters to Santa.
Some of the Santa letters will be featured during a one-hour special, "Dear Santa," airing on Friday, Dec. 9, 8:30 p.m., with special guest appearances by Clay Aiken and Raven Simone on the FOX Network.
"Dear Santa is a one-hour unscripted holiday special featuring the dramatic and heartwarming stories of children whose letters to Santa will be answered with the help of some very special guests. The U.S. Postal Service teams up with some of today's hottest stars to share some dramatic stories including a girl who wants to make the holidays special for needy children, a young boy who dreams of a safe place to skate, a little girl who hopes her dad will come home for the holidays from his military duties abroad and a girl who wants to further her education," according to www.fox.com.
The Postal Service said that it's important that letters to Santa include a complete return address with ZIP Code and a First-Class postage stamp.
Santa enjoys candy canes and cookies, and his reindeer are known to enjoy fresh hay. But because these treats can be damaged or crushed when sent in an envelope, Postal officials know that such treats are best left under the tree on Christmas Eve.
There are simple steps for families to follow if they are interested in having a "response" from Santa postmarked from the North Pole.
Parents, families or friends helping a child write a letter to Santa should mention some of the child's requests and information in the letter from Santa. Adding a line or two about the child's accomplishments or successes this year is encouraged.
Once the response is written, place the letter in a stamped envelope addressed to the child. "North Pole, AK" should be the return address. Then place the envelope into a larger, properly stamped, First-Class Mail or Priority Mail envelope and mail to:
North Pole Christmas Cancellation
Postmaster
5400 Mail Trail
Fairbanks, AK 99709-9998
North Pole postmark requests must arrive in Fairbanks, AK, before Dec. 15. Parents should send letters by Priority Mail after that date.
For bigger "kids," several cities participate in the holiday re-mailing, including Bethlehem, PA; Garland, UT; Nazareth, MI; Antler, ND and Snowflake, AZ.
Here is a list of cities with holiday-sounding names that can provide a great postmark for your holiday mail. Place all addressed and stamped cards and letters in a larger envelope addressed to Postmaster and include city, state and ZIP Code:
Advent WV 25231
Angeles PR 00611
Angels Camp CA 95222
Antler ND 58711
Antlers OK 74523
Bell CA 90201
Bell FL 32619
Bethlehem CT 06751
Bethlehem GA 30620
Bethlehem IN 47104
Bethlehem KY 40007
Bethlehem MD 21609
Bethlehem NH 03574
Bethlehem PA 18016
Blessing TX 77419
Chestnut IL 62518
Christmas FL 32709
Christmas MI 49862 (community post office of Munising)
Evergreen AL 36401
Evergreen CO 80439
Evergreen LA 71333
Evergreen MT 59901 (branch of Kalilspell Post Office)
Evergreen NC 28438
Evergreen VA 23939
Faith NC 28041
Faith SD 57626
Frost MN 56033
Frost TX 76641
Garland ME 04939
Garland NE 68360
Garland NC 28441
Garland PA 16416
Garland TX 75040
Garland UT 84312
Holly CO 81047
Holly MI 48442
Hope AK 99605
Hope AR 71801
Hope ID 83836
Hope IN 47246
Hope KS 67451
Hope KY 40334
Hope MI 48628
Hope MN 56046
Hope NJ 07844
Hope NM 88250
Hope ND 58046
Hope RI 02831
Joseph OR 97846
Joseph City AZ 86032
Joy IL 61260
Mistletoe KY 41351
Nazareth KY 40048
Nazareth MI 49074
Nazareth PA 18064
Nazareth TX 79063
Noel MO 64854
North Pole NY 12946 (community post office of Lake Placid)
Partridge KS 67566
Partridge KY 40862
Rudolph OH 43462
Rudolph WI 54475
Saint Joseph IL 61873
Saint Joseph LA 71366
Saint Joseph MI 49085
Saint Joseph MN 56374
Saint Joseph MO 64501
Saint Joseph TN 38481
Saint Mary KY 40063
Saint Mary MO 63673
Saint Mary MT 59417 (community post office of Browning)
Saint Marys AK 99658
Saint Marys GA 31558
Saint Marys IN 46556 (branch of Notre Dame Post Office)
Saint Marys IA 50241
Saint Marys KS 66536
Saint Marys OH 45885
Saint Marys PA 15857
Saint Marys WV 26170
Santa ID 83866
Santa Claus IN 47579
Shepherd MI 48883
Shepherd MT 59079
Shepherd TX 77371
Snow OK 74567
Snowflake AZ 85937
Snow Shoe PA 16874
Spruce MI 48762
Star ID 83669
Star MS 39167
Star NC 27356
Star TX 76880
Starlight PA 18461
Surprise NY 12176
Wiseman AR 72587
"Santa has a lot of helpers this year, and we're happy to do our part to deliver the holidays. It's what we do best," said John E. Potter, Postmaster General and CEO of the U.S. Postal Service.
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Article published on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2005
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