This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
12/11/2017 11:00 PMAmid the estimated 15 billion pieces of mail that the United States Postal Service (USPS) will deliver this holiday season, the most precious will be the handwritten letters to Santa. USPS has been authorized to give Santa a hand with the letters addressed to him and his responses to wishful children since 1912.
While otherwise inundated and working long hours, being part of the Santa letter process makes it a lighter and brighter time of the year for postal workers. Chester Postmaster Stacey Heft says that her crew helps Santa with up to 50 letters in Chester alone, on top of the double-runs that they make to deliver other holiday letters and packages.
Postal staff at the Deep River Post Office said that the busy time for the Santa letters really doesn’t start until the week before Christmas, making it a challenge for Santa, who enjoys personalizing his correspondences.
“The role of mail in our lives is changing,” noted USPS spokesperson Maureen Marion. “But taking care of the correspondence between Santa and children is still a very serious business.”
Marion further explained the USPS’s part by stressing that letters to Santa are the beginning of a growing process that is learning and loving.
“Santa’s responses set the tone to little ones that their mail has value, their words have value, and that they have value,” Marion said.
Santa doesn’t guarantee that every child will get a response, but there are some tips that the USPS has for making sure that the letters are delivered to the North Pole successfully and increase the chance that Santa will respond personally:
• Santa doesn’t usually return letters written to him in his responses, so take a photo of letters to Santa to preserve memories.
• If there is more than one child in a household, put all of the letters in one envelope, so no one’s letter accidentally goes without a response.
• Santa doesn’t mind poor penmanship. Drawings, collages, and even loose cutouts in an envelope are equally appreciated.
• Don’t worry about the addressing format: Mail always finds its way to Santa. Do make sure to put a return address.
In addition to the letters between the Connecticut and the North Pole, Marion estimated that carriers will also deliver more than 850 million packages this season and the USPS has some tips to make all holiday deliveries go more smoothly:
• Customers who know they won’t be home when their parcel is to be delivered can try USPS Package Intercept. Before delivery, most domestic package shipments can be redirected back to the sender, to a new address, or to the Post Office to be held for pickup.
• Protect your packages by keeping in mind that mail and packages shouldn’t be left uncollected in mailboxes or on front porches for any length of time.
• When shipping packages, customers can choose the hold for pickup option, and the recipients can collect them at their local Post Office. Customers planning on being away from home for a few days are encouraged to take advantage of the request hold mail service. Letters and packages will be held securely at the local Post Office until the customers return.
In addition to the joy that delivering Santa letters bring postal employees, another holiday tradition that postal workers appreciate during this season of increased working hours are the tips and gifts that many people give them to show their gratitude for the services they provide seven days a week. Keep in mind, postal employees may accept gifts valued at as much as $20, but they cannot accept cash. Liquor and wine are prohibited, but candy and cookies are appreciated.