Make a Holiday Wish Come True: USPS Operation Santa® Connects Letters with Adopters

WHITEWATER VALLEY, IND. — Each year, thousands of letters addressed to Santa Claus arrive at U.S. Post Offices. For more than a century, a special program has been working to make sure those wishes are answered.

The United States Postal Service (USPS) Operation Santa® program is now underway, connecting these heartfelt letters with generous individuals and groups who want to “adopt” a letter and fulfill a child’s holiday wish.

The Mission Behind the Magic

The mission of the USPS Operation Santa program is simple: to answer the thousands of letters sent to Santa and the North Pole each year.

Anyone in the United States can write a letter to Santa, regardless of their religion or denomination. While the program has helped thousands of families, the USPS notes that it is not a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization but rather an official postal program dedicated to handling this special holiday mail.

A 113-Year-Old Tradition

This holiday tradition dates back to 1912, when Postmaster General Frank Hitchcock first authorized local postmasters to allow postal employees to open and respond to the letters. By the 1940s, as the volume of mail poured in, the program was opened to the general public.

In 2017, the USPS began digitizing the experience and, by 2019, the online program had expanded nationwide. Today, this digital platform allows anyone in the U.S. to read and adopt letters from the comfort of their home.

How to Participate in 2025

Thanks to the generosity of adopters, the USPS Operation Santa program delivers joy to more doorsteps every year. Here is how Whitewater Valley residents can get involved.

To Adopt a Letter:

• When: Letter adoption begins Monday, November 17, 2025.
• Where: Go to USPSOperationSanta.com to register and get verified.
• How: Once adoption opens, you can browse the digitized (and anonymized) letters, choose one that speaks to you, and follow the instructions to send a gift.
• Deadline: The last day to adopt a letter and the recommended shipping date for gifts is December 13, 2025.

To Write a Letter:

• Address: Letters should be addressed to: Santa Claus 123 Elf Road North Pole, 88888
• Deadline: Letters must be postmarked by December 6, 2025, to be considered for the program.