CLEVELAND — For most of us it is the most wonderful time of the year – a time to celebrate with family and friends. Children write letters to Santa eagerly awaiting his arrival and on Christmas morning wake up to find their dreams fulfilled. But some children will wake to find that Santa may have forgotten them.
The Cleveland Operation Santa Program is a letter-writing campaign that allows members of the public to respond to children’s letters addressed to Santa Claus, the North Pole and other seasonal characters. The Cleveland Main Post Office annually receives hundreds of letters from children and families asking Santa for help.
“Just as we’ve done for decades, we are pleased to continue this holiday program for the families in our community this year,” says La Vanda Fondren, USPS manager of consumer industry and contact.
Participating members of the public choose one or more letters to answer (all personal information is redacted from the letters), bring purchased presents back to the Consumer Affairs office at the Cleveland Main Post Office and pay for the postage to have the items sent to the recipients. Participants must also bring the copy of the redacted letter(s) when mailing the gift(s). All presents must be returned for mailing by Friday, December 18.
The Postal Service began receiving letters to Santa Claus more than 100 years ago. However, its involvement was made official when in 1912 Postmaster General Frank Hitchcock authorized local Postmasters to allow postal employees and citizens to respond to letters, and thus introducing the first Operation Santa Program.
People with questions about participating may call 216.443.4416.
Note to media: Operation Santa Coordinator Dell Young is available for media interviews. Please call 216.213.2260 to coordinate interview dates and times.# # #
Please Note: For broadcast quality video and audio, photo stills and other media resources, visit the USPS Newsroom at about.usps.com/news/welcome.htm. A complete list of the holiday shipping deadlines can be found at usps.com/holidaynews.
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For more information about the Postal Service, visit usps.com and usps.com/postalfacts.
