We already know the guy in the big red suit is timeless, but he might have a bit of competition.
The United States Postal Service has also been fulfilling the holiday wishes of children across the country for over a century.
For 112 years, Operation Santa — a program run by the USPS — has encouraged members of the public to “adopt” a wishlist and donate toys to children in need.
This year, the Postal Service’s elves have upped the ante through a partnership with Toys R Us, debuting an online e-commerce catalog that makes the fulfillment of gifts even easier for donors.
The new site has streamlined the letter-to-gift process, allowing participants to shop for the ideal gift and ship it from the comfort of their homes with just a few clicks. It’s called, aptly, Santa’s Gift Shoppe.
Although Toys R Us remains a notable name in American households, the company filed for bankruptcy about seven years ago. In more recent years, however, it has made somewhat of a comeback, with pop-up toy shops inside of department stores and more.
This e-commerce pivot marks the company’s ongoing revival, with Operation Santa participants shopping the brand’s online catalog, which includes a selection of popular toys and gifts to fulfill the wishes of letter-writing children across the country.
“USPS Operation Santa has connected communities through holiday goodwill for over a century,” said USPS Marketing Vice President Sheila Holman in a statement.
“This year, through our collaboration with Toys R Us, we’re thrilled to bring an easier way for generous people to make a difference. With the launch of this new e-commerce platform, we’re making it simpler than ever to help fulfill wishes and spread holiday joy.”
USPS also shared in a press release that this integration will hopefully be the start of a larger online catalog to include more products to further the impact of Operation Santa, such as books or clothing.
But for now, the joy of a brand new toy is certainly a great way to spread hope and love this holiday season.
“At Toys R Us, our mission is to bring joy to children, and what better way than to surprise them with gifts from Santa,” Gary Haas, vice president of e-commerce at Toys R Us said.
“Through this new e-commerce platform, generous individuals can easily adopt a letter to Santa and help create magical moments for a new generation of Toys R Us kids.”
How to submit an Operation Santa letter
Submitting a letter through Operation Santa is as easy as visiting the project’s website. Writers do not need to register online but will have to send a physical letter to Santa, which must be postmarked by Dec. 9.
Whether kids and families want to get crafty or use the provided templates from the USPS, the agency recommends being specific with asks, like listing specific books or game titles and including clothing sizes.
All letters need to include the writer’s first and last name, as well as a complete return address. From there, envelopes will need a postage stamp and can be addressed to:
Santa
123 Elf Road
North Pole, 88888
The letters are brought to Santa’s mailroom, where personal information is redacted and uploaded to the USPS website to be adopted by a generous member of the public.
How to adopt an Operation Santa letter
People can visit the online platform to read letters, select their favorites, and shop online. (Letters are also available in both Spanish and English, which can be sorted with a filter on the Operation Santa website.)
Those who want to do this must register online and create an account. Once verified, each person can adopt up to 15 letters.
All “adoptions” are digital, and while the new virtual integrations make it easy to ship items through USPS, people can still send gifts themselves by bringing a scannable code to a post office location.
Just like all holiday shipping, however, there are deadlines to keep in mind! Dec. 16 is the last call to adopt letters and is also the recommended date for shipping items.
“Generous individuals who adopt Santa letters can reconnect with that nostalgic feeling of being a Toys R Us kid — sharing that sense of wonder and delight with a new generation when they receive their gifts from Santa,” Holman told USA Today.
Last year, nearly 30,000 Santa letters received a response, and Holman added that the program is “more vital now than ever” for struggling families, adding that “it’s a reminder of the power of kindness and connection.”
Header image courtesy of Cottonbro Studio/Pexels
