"Operation Santa" Underway at Chicago Main Post Office

Chicago-area residents are encouraged to pick up children’s letters to Santa at the Chicago Main Post Office through Dec. 19.

Since 1912, the U.S. Postal Service has conducted “Operation Santa,” answering the thousands of letters addressed to Santa Claus that are received at post offices around the country.

Charitable organizations, corporations and community groups have joined the effort to fulfill the wishes of children.

Many of the letters the Chicago Main Post Office receives are from children and parents who have fallen on hard times.

The letters received this year have been scanned and numbered. The writer’s address has been redacted to protect the person’s privacy.

• If you live or work downtown, or want to pick up a handful of letters for your church, group or workplace, go to the Chicago Main Post Office at 433 W. Harrison St.
• Individuals and groups can respond to the letters and fulfill the letter writer’s Christmas wishes, many from parents desperate to put a few toys, a winter coat, or hats and mittens under the tree for their children.
• Presents and responses from Santa can be dropped off at Chicago Main Post Office, which will ship them off to the letter writer.

Last year, the Chicago Main Post Office received 10,000 letters from children and adults, many who have fallen on hard times, however, only 6,000 letters were answered. The rest were sadly shredded to protect the letter writer’s personal identifying information.

The requests received from children are especially humble, who ask not for toys but for socks or a winter hat.

Letters and presents can be picked up and dropped off from now until Dec. 19, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

To learn more about adopting a “Santa letter,” visit the Operation Santa blog.