The 114th year of USPS Operation Santa and the U.S. Postal Service is now accepting holiday letters from children and families throughout the continental U.S., Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. Every year, thousands of families send letters to Santa at the North Pole. The beloved Postal Service program makes it possible for people to adopt and respond to these letters, fulfilling the holiday wishes of children and families across the country.

“The holidays are a time to celebrate the joy of the season. But for some, the simple act of exchanging even small gifts is out of reach,” Sheila Holman, vice president of marketing for the Postal Service commented. “For more than 100 years, USPS Operation Santa has given kindhearted people the opportunity to make dreams come true for thousands of children and their families through simple acts of kindness.”

Submitted letters must follow the program guidelines found on USPSOperationSanta.com and be postmarked by Dec. 5 to be eligible for potential adoption and fulfillment — there is no guarantee that letters submitted to the program will be adopted. Letters should be sent to Santa’s official workshop address:

• Santa Claus
  123 Elf Rd.
  North Pole, 88888

Registration to adopt letters starts Nov. 2, and people can register as individuals or groups. The letter adoption window opens on Nov. 16, and registrants can adopt single or family letters to help brighten the holidays for those in need. For more information on the program, history, important dates and how to participate as either a letter writer or adopter.

• For those of you who might be interested.

In 1912, the Postal Service — then the Post Office Department — began receiving letters to Santa Claus. The Postmaster General at the time, Frank Hitchcock, authorized local Postmasters to allow postal employees and citizens to respond to the letters — a program that eventually became known as USPS Operation Santa. Hitchcock is also credited with establishing the first U.S. airmail service.

• According to USPS Operation Santa 48,826 Letters were adopted in 2025
• Top Letter Adopters by State in 2025
  
  California 3907 letters
  Texas 3548 letters
  Florida 2945 letters