How to write to Santa - and get letter back

Volunteers Needed for “Operation Santa”

Each year, children everywhere write Santa Claus a letter and send it to his workshop at the North Pole. And children can get a reply from Santa (complete with the North Pole postmark) through the U.S. Postal Service's Letters From Santa program.

But time is running out!

Santa at Phipps Plaza Mall in Atlanta 

Credit: Nedra Rhone

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Credit: Nedra Rhone

Here's how it works:

1. Have the child write a letter to Santa and place it in an envelope addressed to: Santa Claus, North Pole.

2. Write a personalized response to the child's letter and sign it "From Santa."

3. See sample responses from Santa below.

4. Insert both letters into an envelope, and address it to the child.

5. Add the return address: SANTA, NORTH POLE, to the envelope.

6. Ensure a First-Class Mail stamp is affixed to the envelope.

7. Place the complete envelope into a larger envelope, with appropriate postage, and address it to:

NORTH POLE POSTMARK 

POSTMASTER 

4141 POSTMARK DR 

ANCHORAGE AK 99530-9998

Johnny Hammond was Santa at Southlake Mall and Phipps Plaza for two decades.

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Letters from Santa must be received by the Anchorage, AK, Postmaster no later than December 15. Santa’s helpers in Anchorage, AK, will take care of the rest.

Tips: When responding as Santa, make the response as personal as possible by highlighting your child's accomplishments over the past year. For example, helping around the house, receiving good grades in a particular subject at school or participating in community service activities.

A sample response from Santa:

Dear Friend: Thank you so much for the wonderful letter. My pals at the Post Office are bringing Mrs. Claus and me thousands of letters daily. We sit down in front of the fireplace every evening and read them. I just finished checking with the elves in my workshop. They’re working extra hours to make sure everything is just right for Christmas Eve. Mrs. Claus had her oven going full time to make sure they have plenty of warm cookies to eat. Rudolph is leading the other reindeer in daily workouts so they will be in tip top shape. Funny thing, as Christmas gets closer, the reindeer are getting more and more excited! I’m looking forward to making my trip around the world and can’t wait to visit your neighborhood. Until then, I hope you’ll continue to be good! Thanks again for writing and have a Merry Christmas. Love, Santa

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