Since 1912, the U.S. Postal Service has been answering letters written to Santa and granting the wishes of children. By the 1940s the volume was too much for Postal Service employees to handle, and charitable organizations and corporations were invited to assist.
This year's Letters-to-Santa Program will begin Monday and postal employees, Bay Area residents, organizations and companies are urged to stop by their local participating post office to take part.
Local post offices offering the program include: 580 N. Mary Ave. in Sunnyvale, 150 Harbor Drive in Sausalito, 1300 Evans Ave. in San Francisco, 751 E. Blithedale Ave. in Mill Valley, 6 Beach Road in Belvedere, 50 W. Manor Drive in Pacifica, 2020 Pescadero Creek Road in Pescadero, 211 Hope St. in Mountain View, 730 Second St. in Santa Rosa, 11041 Main St. in Penngrove and 8930 Sonoma Highway in Kenwood.
"This is a very special holiday tradition that the Postal Service does yearly," San Francisco Postmaster Noemi Luna said. "Working with the Letters-to-Santa program is one of the ways our employees celebrate the season and give back to the community."
Beginning this year, requests to take part in the program must be made in person and must include photo identification and a short form.
