The season for giving and making wishes come true has arrived.
Beginning Nov. 20, Postal Service employees and customers can go to the USPS Operation Santa website where they can make someone’s holiday special in four steps: read, shop, wrap and ship.
The site allows visitors to read letters from children and others who are less fortunate this holiday season. Participants can pick one or more letters to adopt and follow the directions on how to fulfill the written requests.
For security reasons, participants must complete a brief registration and ID verification process before adopting a letter.
If potential adopters are unable to obtain ID verification online, they will be provided a code and instructions on how to be verified in person at a local Post Office. Once verified, the adopter will receive an email with detailed information on how to participate.
The annual program began accepting letters Sept. 18.
Letters sent with First-Class Mail postage and complete, accurate and legible return addresses have been posted on the USPS Operation Santa site. Dec. 11 is the last day to send letters to Santa at 123 Elf Road, North Pole, 88888.
The deadline to adopt letters is Dec. 18, which is also when adopters are encouraged to ship packages by Priority Mail.
The USPS Operation Santa program is 111 years old and continues to rely solely on the kindness and generosity of strangers. It allows people to help children and families enjoy the holidays safely, securely and anonymously.
The Postal Service’s recent news release provides tips to reduce shipping costs as letter adopters are responsible for postage fees to ship gift packages.
USPS has a video that explains how to participate in the program.
