Operation Santa Claus facts for kids

Operation Santa Claus is a special program run by the United States Postal Service (USPS) every year. It began in 1912 when Frank Hitchcock, who was the Postmaster General at the time, allowed local post offices to start answering letters from kids who needed help. The very first program started at the James Farley Post Office in New York.

This program helps make sure that children's letters to Santa Claus get a reply. It also allows people to "adopt" letters from children and buy them gifts.

Getting a Special Holiday Postmark

If you want your letter to Santa Claus to have a special holiday postmark from the town of Santa Claus, Indiana, you need to send it by December 10.

• Send your letter or holiday greeting card to:
  • Santa Claus, PO Box 202, Santa Claus, IN 47579

If you want your letter to have a special holiday postmark from the North Pole, you also need to send it by December 10.

• Send your letter or holiday greeting card to:
  • North Pole Holiday Postmark, Postmaster, 4141 Postmark Dr, Anchorage, AK 99530-9998

Operation Santa Claus in Alaska

Santa and Mrs. Claus exit a C-130H Hercules aircraft at St. Mary's, Alaska, Dec. 5, 2015. This plane helps deliver gifts to kids in far-off towns.

For over 25 years, the Salvation Army has worked with the Alaska Air National Guard to deliver gifts. They use large C-130 Hercules airplanes to fly presents to children. These kids live in far-off towns across Alaska. This special delivery happens every year before Christmas.

See also

• Operation Christmas Drop, a yearly program where the U.S. Air Force drops supplies over Micronesia.