For nearly 100 years, the U.S. Postal Service has responded to letters for Santa.
Here in Tucson, we have 14 volunteer postal workers who help connect the North Pole to the Old Pueblo. They send letters back to children and sometimes assist families in need.
They even held a car wash this summer - Christmas in July - to help raise money for families.
"For me it's very, very gratifying," said Stuart Love, a letter carrier and branch president for the National Association of Letter Carriers. "Just to be able to sit down and open up some of these letters, and just dream about what these kids want, kind of brings you back to when you were a kid growing up and you were always expecting that letter from Santa Claus."
Love said the volunteer group of letter carriers has sent more than 500 letters from the North Pole to Tucson kids. Here are excerpts and samples from letters to Santa, 2011:
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Dear Santa Claus,
My name is Dora. I write to you every year. I believe in you so much. I even wait for you every Christmas Eve.
I have an amazing family. Do you have an amazing family? I have two brothers, mom, dad, and me.
Well, what I want for Christmas is only 5 things. I've wanted less, but you'll see what I want.
1. LaLa Loopsy Silly hair doll
2. LaLa Loopsy tree house with doll
3. Monte Carlo movie
4. C.D. Ant Farm
5. Everyone having a great awesome CHRISTMAS!
Happy holidays Santa!
Love,
Dora
Dear Santa,
Thank you Santa for helping me and my family last year, that my parents couldn't buy us stuff.
This year it's a bit the same my dad is having hard time with all this about working and not having enough money because he's been paying a lot of bills.
I ask you Santa if this year you could help us once again me and my brothers and sister. …
My first wish is an I-pod touch. I know that it's a lot and maybe you can't buy it, but it doesn't hurt to ask and if you can't Santa I would like gift card so I use it to buy things that my mom needs and school things.
I would really like my first and second wish come true Santa but anything that you could help me and my family Santa would help.
Sincerely,
Sandra, 15 years old
Note: The postal workers union helped her family last year.
To Whom It May Concern:
My name is Matthew. I am trying to get help with Christmas. I have two boys ages 12 + 14. They are ADD and ADHD and mentally challenged.
I'm trying to make their Christmas a good one, but the fact is I can't due to hard times. I do not receive food stamps, however, I do get SSI, so I do my best around the holidays to get a nice dinner + toys.
We are a family of 6. Three adults, two teens and one three-year-old boy.
Matthew
Dear Santa,
Merry Christmas! How are you? I hope you, Ms. Claus, Rudolph, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen are doing well.
For Christmas I am leaving you peppermint bark and a sack of grain for the reindeer. I hope you like it!
For Christmas I. would like a 3-d puzzle sphere, new jewelery, new kitchen supplies, and new horse figureings. Send my greetings to Ms. Claus and all the reindeer. Thank you for comeing to my humble abode every year.
Sincerely,
Julia
P.S. watch out for Buster and Daisy.
Dear Santa,
I do wish to apologize for the insignificant misbehavior done this year. I promise that I, Allison, will not further behave in this way.
Anyway, I want a very small amount of presents this year. Please, read the list below, it shows what I want. ...
That will be all. The cookies will be chocolate chip as you like them. Tell Mrs. Claus hello.
Love,
Allison
p.s. Stripes says Hi!
Note: The small list was nine items long. Had to cut it for space.
Dear Santa,
I have been nice because I helped mom clean the house, and I helped dad put up the Christmas tree.
I am sorry that I was mean to my mom.
I would like to get these toys for Christmas: Skateboard, techdeck, big, medium or tiny remote control spy car that goes 50 mph and could climb has hands and feet and can shrink and get big and can go in the water and swim.
Thats all Santa,
Eric
Did you know?
It was in 1912 that Postmaster General Frank Hitchcock first allowed Postal Service employees to respond to letters for Santa.
Hitchcock would later play a key role in getting the Catalina Highway built.
Sources: U.S. Postal Service and Coronado National Forest
Contact columnist Josh Brodesky at 573-4242 or jbrodesky@azstarnet.com
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