Santa letter adoption opens
Postal Service invites individuals and groups to register by November 16 for the holiday gift program.
By Michael Bennett ·
The United States Postal Service has opened registration for its annual Operation Santa program.
Individuals and groups can now sign up to adopt letters containing holiday wishes. Applicants must visit USPSOperationSanta.com and complete a registration process. The system includes an identity verification step for security. New participants and returning adopters must both go through this check each year.
Sheila Holman, the Postal Service vice president of marketing, noted that the agency often receives more letters than there are adopters. She said many letters come from entire households. Holman encouraged companies and organizations to form teams. This approach allows a group to adopt a whole household together. The goal is to ensure every person in the home receives a gift.
Approved adopters can begin selecting letters on Monday, November 16. Participants can choose a letter from an individual or a family. After selecting a letter, adopters shop for gifts. They can purchase items themselves or use the Santa’s Gift Shoppe catalog.
The Postal Service is partnering with Toys"R"Us again this year. The online catalog allows users to buy and ship gifts directly to recipients. Those who prefer to buy gifts in person can still send them from a participating Post Office location.
All gifts must be shipped by Saturday, December 12. The Postal Service began accepting letters for this year’s program on September 14. The letters are now available on the website for review and adoption.
Holman described the program as an enduring holiday tradition spanning more than a century. She credited the generosity of others for making the season special for thousands of children and families in need. The agency notes that there is no guarantee every letter will be posted. If a letter is posted, there is also no guarantee it will be adopted and fulfilled.
