Boston Post Office Kicks Off Operation Santa and You Can Help

Operation Santa 2010 launched on Wednesday and the Boston Post Office is already deluged with letters addressed to Santa Claus, many of them from needy children who can't count on waking up Christmas morning to gifts under a tree. 

For more than 10 years the Boston Post Office has used Operation Santa as a way to make sure that someone answers all those letters. Starting on Wednesday and running until Friday, Dec. 17, Bostonians can stop by the South Station Post Office to select a letter from a needy family and play Santa Claus. 

"Last year we had more than 900 letters," said Boston-area Post Office Spokesman Dennis Tarmey. But Tarmey predicts that number will grow this year. Already, by Nov. 22, more than 400 letters had been received. 

"It's sort of a sign of the times but there are good people out there who will come in," said Tarmey.

"You can't intercept all of them, but we try," said the Manager Ed Davis. Employees search through the mail looking for letters addressed to Santa or the North Pole.

"Some of the letters just tear your heart out," Davis said.

Because of privacy issues the names and addresses of the letter writers are redacted, so packages must go through Operation Santa to reach families.

"Before privacy issues became paramount," Bostonians could select a letter and deliver a sack of gifts directly to a needy family, said Davis.

"I actually brought a package to a family in Dorchester one year and it was just so cool," Davis said. 

Operation Santa is open 8 to 11 a.m. and noon to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday at 25 Dorchester Ave. Once you select a letter, purchase a gift and drop it off no later than Tuesday, Dec. 21 to ensure delivery by Christmas Eve.

All gifts must be boxed and taped securely and brought to the Fort Point Station Retail Office, also at 25 Dorchester St., to purchase postage and ship the package to the family.

Call 617-654-5802 for more information.