The Maui News

The U.S. Postal Service’s Operation Santa wish fulfillment program is accepting children’s letters that can be potentially “adopted” by anonymous gift givers.

With many families struggling with financial or health issues related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, some parents may not be able to fulfill their children’s holiday wishes this year.

The USPS Operation Santa hopes to remedy any stressors by having “adopters” fulfill keiki letter writers’ Christmas wishes by purchasing and sending them gifts on behalf of Santa.

In 2020 more than 23,000 Santa letters submitted to the program were adopted nationwide, including 140 here in Hawaii, according to a USPS news release.

Since its beginning in 1912, the USPS Operation Santa program has helped to connect millions of children and their families with generous adopters.

In recent years, the program transitioned from a hard-copy program hosted by certain Post Offices to a digital program that allows customers to access Santa letters at the USPS Operation Santa website at USPSOperationSanta.com.

To participate in the program as a potential holiday gift recipient, children need to write a letter to Santa, put it in an envelope with a First-Class Mail Forever stamp, include their complete return address, and send it to the USPS Operation Santa workshop address at 123 Elf Road, North Pole 88888.

Letters must be postmarked by Dec. 10, and will be uploaded to the USPS Operation Santa website through Dec. 15 for potential adoption.

Hawaii residents are encouraged to go online beginning Nov. 29 to adopt letters submitted to USPS Operation Santa to help a child have a happy holiday. Letters can be filtered by state.

For more information, visit USPSOperationSanta.com