The holiday season brings a chance for kindness, joy, and dreams fulfilled through the U.S. Postal Service’s (USPS) longstanding Operation Santa program. Each year, thousands of letters to Santa arrive at USPS, many from families facing difficult times. Through Operation Santa, USPS makes it possible for individuals, businesses, and organizations to “adopt” these letters and respond with gifts.
Operation Santa began in 1912, when Postmaster General Frank Hitchcock authorized postal workers to answer letters addressed to Santa. By the 1940s, as letters increased, the public was invited to help. In 2017, USPS launched a digital pilot program, and by 2019, the program went nationwide online, allowing people across the country to adopt letters from the comfort of their homes.
Participating in Operation Santa is easy. After registering at USPSOperationSanta.com, volunteers can browse letters, select one (or more) to fulfill, and cover postage to send gifts to their recipients. Organizations and companies often participate as well, adopting multiple letters to amplify their impact. In 2020, over a million visitors engaged with the website, and more than 21,000 packages were sent to families in need.
Operation Santa’s enduring success and heartwarming stories have even inspired a documentary, Dear Santa, which captures the magic and generosity behind each adopted letter. For anyone interested in participating or adopting a letter, visit USPS Operation Santa online to join this special holiday tradition.