The clock is ticking for families hoping to send letters to Santa Claus at the North Pole this holiday season.
Letters need to be postmarked by Monday, a spokesperson for the U. S. Postal Service confirmed with USA TODAY Thursday afternoon.
The letters can be sent as part of the Postal Service’s annual Operation Santa program, allowing children to write letters to Santa and have their letters shared online, with personal information redacted.
Other Operation Santa participants can read the letters online, “adopt” them and have gifts shipped to the individuals or families who wrote them, making their Christmas wishes come true, the Postal Service said in a news release.
Here’s what you need to know about writing to Santa and, if you’d like, adopting a letter to make sure families get what they need and want this year.
What dates should I remember for writing to Santa?
To ensure your letter gets to Santa, the Postal Service said it’s vital to remember the following dates:
◾ Monday – Last day to mail letters to Santa.
◾ Dec. 16 – Last day to adopt letters before the website closes at 8 p.m. EST.
◾ Dec. 16 – Santa’s Gift Shoppe closes.
How can I send my letter to Santa Claus?
Individuals and families who want to write to Santa will need a First-Class stamp, an envelope and paper to write their letters. The postal service has also shared downloadable templates people can use when writing to Santa.
The Postal Service said those who write in should include details about the items on their Christmas lists, including game and book titles, sizes, colors and more. The more details they include, the easier it’ll be for letter adopters to shop.
Letters should be postmarked by Monday, Dec. 9 and mailed to:
Santa
123 Elf Road
North Pole, 88888
While the Postal Service doesn’t send out receipts to confirm letters were delivered or read, the letters may end up on the agency’s website, and “letters are often adopted as quickly as they are uploaded,” the Postal Service said.
Other tips the postal service noted are:
◾ Families writing in should group all letters into one envelope and include additional stamps depending on the weight.
◾ Organizations or classrooms should send all letters individually in standard-size letter envelopes, each with a First-Class stamp.
◾ Avoid including 3D art.
How can I adopt a letter and help families?
To adopt a letter, go to www.uspsoperationsanta.com, create an account and verify your identity and address.
Next, click “Adopt a letter.”
The Operation Santa website allows adopters to filter through the letters by state, language and family size. Once adopters have found letters they want to adopt, they can click the “Adopt” button and start the process.
