The U.S. Postal Service’s “Letters to Santa” program is underway this year. This annual letter-writing program responds to children’s letters addressed to Santa Claus, the North Pole and other seasonal characters.
USPS touts the Letters from Santa program as adding to the excitement of Christmas and being ideal for interesting youngsters in letter writing, stamps and penmanship.
“Letters from Santa” must be received by the Anchorage, AK postmaster no later than December 15, 2015. Santa’s helpers at the Postal Service, will take care of the rest.
Here are the steps for your child to get a letter back from Santa:
1. Have your child write a letter to Santa and place it in an envelope addressed to: Santa Claus, North Pole.
2. Later, when alone, open the envelope and write a personalized response.
3. Insert the response letter into an envelope and address it to the child.
4. Add the return address: SANTA, NORTH POLE, to the envelope.
5. Ensure the envelope is affixed with a First-Class Mail stamp, such as a recently issued Charlie Brown Christmas stamp.
6. Place the complete envelope into a larger envelope — preferably a Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelope — with appropriate postage, and address it to:
North Pole Postmark
Postmaster4141
Postmark Drive
Anchorage, AK 99530-9998
Tips
To save paper, write on the back of your child’s letter. If you keep them together, your child will also be able to recall what he or she wrote.
When responding as Santa, make the response as personal as possible by highlighting your child’s accomplishments over the past year. For example, helping around the house, receiving good grades in a particular subject at school or participating in community service activities.
