'Operation Santa' returns to main Chicago post office
"Operation Santa" is back in business.
The Chicago program lets people help a child who may not otherwise have a very merry Christmas.
Santa himself arrived Monday at the main post office downtown to usher in the annual program that connects volunteers with children and families in need.
"We're here to make sure that all the unfortunate kids get a gift or get taken care of what they really need,” Santa said.
Since 1912, "Operation Santa" has connected kids in need with those who'd like to give. Last year, more than 4,000 Chicago area children and parents wrote letters to Santa that were made available to the public at the main post office.
"They select a letter, they buy gifts for example that the child is wanting, asking for in the letter. Then they bring those back here, then they pay for the postage for these items to be mailed,” said USPS spokesman Tim Norman.
The letters are divided into separate baskets, separate categories for an individual boy or girl, two children, three children, as many as seven children in a single family. And there are also letters written in Spanish.
We found Kathy Lawrence of Chicago picking out letters, which is something she does every year.
"I try to go for the bigger number letters so that there's more kids or members of the family involved,” she said.
While some of the letters include lists, most requests are surprisingly simple, such as a restaurant gift card.
"We get heartfelt letters every day. We cry. That's why we put tissues on the table, because when you read them, you're gonna cry. They're heartbreaking. You want to help everybody,” said postal supervisor Janice Hall.