This was in the mailbox and I don’t know if I’m supposed to “send it” to Santa or leave it for the parents to “send it” to Santa. The elf is in the “package”. First time seeing this lol what would you do??
After working for the post service for 5 years. There's no official postal policy form this stuff. There is an official address kids can send letters to, I'm blanking on what exactly it is, that the postal service set up to respond to them. But there isn't much you can do for things like this, that aren't officially addressed. So instead of it just being dead mail, responding to it yourself and putting a smile on a child's face is the best option
Ask your supervisor. We had a lady at our station who used to reply to all of them as "Santa" in her free time, but she's since retired. I don't think anyone is going to replace her this year. I talked to the parents of a little girl who left a letter for Santa a few weeks ago and they were just happy that I picked it up, and they said they'd write a letter for their kid themselves.
When my mother was a post master she use to pick out a few of the ones she got in her office and we would deliver the gifts pretending to be Santa’s elves….. the one house we got invited into the mom had homemade
Ornaments and popcorn garland…not a single thing under the tree… she was bawling…she as soo so happy!!! It was Christmas Eve, I’ve wished every day since then I had the money to do this!
Bruh I still cry when I think about them the daughter was 8 and the boy 6. It was 20 years ago! My mother always said you can tell by what the kids ask for if their gifts are really needed…or just wanted. I’m sure knowing addresses and neighborhoods helps.
Thanks for all the responses and ideas! I thought about giving it to a supervisor but didn’t think they’d have nearly as much fun as I plan to on “sending and returning” it from Santa. I’m still playing around with an ai picture and letter but here’s the idea so far! And I’m going to play around with some “official” North Pole stationary as well 😄
Hoo-hoo-hooray! Thank you so much for sending your special friend, Mikily, on a whirlwind trip back to the North Pole. What an important and thoughtful thing you did!
I understand exactly why you sent them. Accidents happen—especially when you have a tiny, magical elf in the house! You were very brave and honest to send them back so quickly and ask for my help. That shows me you have a wonderful, caring heart, and that's the greatest kind of magic there is!
I'm happy to tell you that Mikily is doing perfectly fine. They enjoyed a nice mug of hot cocoa with a few of the other North Pole Scout Elves while I gave them a very special "Magic Recharge." It involved a sprinkle of starlight, a dash of laughter, and a whispered promise of more Christmas joy for you.
Their magic is fully restored and twinkling brighter than Rudolph's nose!
We've already sent Mikily on their way back to your house, and they should arrive very soon, ready for more fun. Remember, the best way to keep your elf's magic strong is to be kind, believe in the Christmas spirit, and always try your best!
Go get something shiny (like blue and white aquarium rocks), put them in a small bag, and put them back in the mailbox explaining that they’ve been infused with North Pole magic, and if he ever touches his elf again, he can use those rocks to bring his magic back!!!
Also, if he starts to make this a habit, include a little note to the parents that the youngster needs to learn about proper postage 🤣🤣🤣
I was a CCA in a literal “1 route office” that made bank by traveling between small rural cities for a year and a half, so I approached these kind of situations with some “small town” levity. Maybe you carriers in bigger cities might have a different perspective.
Granted, I’m the dad that takes these spontaneous opportunities with my kids to the nth degree, so I know I’m extra, but I’ve created some really good memories with my kids 😊
This deserves rewards! This is freaking awesome! I have to steal this idea because our elf is always losing his magic because one of the 3 have accidentally touched them. Thank you for this!!!
Im a witch. In that I focus more on spells, cleansing, etc. My kids always knew this. My daughter being a decade younger than her brother, she grew up with "my mommy is a witch" and she carried it with great pride! She touched her elf one night when she was around 4yo. She ran to me asking to use my magic. I told her a secret way I could give her my magic but it would expire in 10 seconds so she had to be quick. I rub hands together, making them warm, then blew inhaled deep and blew into my hands then carefully placed the "magic" into her palms. She was directed to pour the magic out of her hands over the elf and then wait until the next day. We had MANY "mommy, I need your magic" moments! This brought back that memory. She is about to be 13 and stopped believing in Santa at 8. Her brother? We HAD to tell him. I, too, went above and beyond. We had a hand-made rubber stamp store - owner was pushing his 90s. I had Santa and the kids names made up without them ever knowing. Every gift had stamps on them. They never saw wrapping paper until it came time for them to pick out what they wanted. We set it out like we did with cookies. This made it so much more believable for them somehow.
If I were that parent I’d love to find it left with a lil note from you as Santa 🥰 saying something like “Luckily I’ve cured Mikily but you must be more careful with our beloved helpers!”
The Post Office actually use to have Santa Letter Templates that offices could download. As Postmaster , I always gave a few volunteer employees time to come back early from their routes and get our local Santa Letter replies ready for delivery the next day. I'd buy a big tub of candy canes to put in the envelopes. They would put them on the cases ready for the next day. It is important for the carriers to write the address of the house where they picked it up, so we could actually reply. They are supposed to be sent downtown but I never trusted them so we kept it in-house.
To all downvoting, I responded so confidently because I work at the main office window in my area that directly handles the Operation Santa responses. Maybe my office is doing it incorrectly, but my office and the surrounding cities were all told any Operation Santa letter with no postage gets dead letter’ed and that it was to be treated as any other piece of mail. We have done this the same way the previous 7 years I’ve been there, but like I said, it’s possible there’s been a miscommunication and we’ve been doing it wrong.
I’d take it home, repackage it and return it with a note from Santa about how he got his magic back. It will make you feel good inside
This
I would also go over to r/photoshop and ask for help with a few pics of the elf back in the North Pole
And put a smile on a child's face! ☺️
Id personally bring it back a day or two later and put it in their box holding a letter from Santa, but that's not the postal policy haha
After working for the post service for 5 years. There's no official postal policy form this stuff. There is an official address kids can send letters to, I'm blanking on what exactly it is, that the postal service set up to respond to them. But there isn't much you can do for things like this, that aren't officially addressed. So instead of it just being dead mail, responding to it yourself and putting a smile on a child's face is the best option
I had a kid on my route a couple weeks ago write one:
123 Elf Road, North Pole 88888
I mean, this is what it SHOULD be…
https://preview.redd.it/6k0a5k12sh7g1.jpeg?width=995&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4b7a103037cb00420da4aa38cd16739cf5b811c2
Ask your supervisor. We had a lady at our station who used to reply to all of them as "Santa" in her free time, but she's since retired. I don't think anyone is going to replace her this year. I talked to the parents of a little girl who left a letter for Santa a few weeks ago and they were just happy that I picked it up, and they said they'd write a letter for their kid themselves.
My parents sent our letters to my grandparents, my Nana wrote back as Santa. That was before the PO was doing a Santa Letter thing.
When my mother was a post master she use to pick out a few of the ones she got in her office and we would deliver the gifts pretending to be Santa’s elves….. the one house we got invited into the mom had homemade Ornaments and popcorn garland…not a single thing under the tree… she was bawling…she as soo so happy!!! It was Christmas Eve, I’ve wished every day since then I had the money to do this!
This made me get a lump in my throat. Thanks for being a good person.
Bruh I still cry when I think about them the daughter was 8 and the boy 6. It was 20 years ago! My mother always said you can tell by what the kids ask for if their gifts are really needed…or just wanted. I’m sure knowing addresses and neighborhoods helps.
Silly question... Does someone have to be employed by USPS or can you volunteer? I love writing but I don't have anything/anyone to write for!
You could try calling your local post office!
Thank you! 🩷
Oh, asking for the postmaster or office manager might get you to the right person.
Great question, but i don't have an answer. Check with your local post office
They arent allowed to anymore. Santa letters must go thru the Santa program do usps can claim their $$$ from the postage.
No local adoptions allowed anymore. Under the guise of safety. But really its a financial bro decision
We have a “letters to Santa” bin at my office. Yours may have one too.
Thanks for all the responses and ideas! I thought about giving it to a supervisor but didn’t think they’d have nearly as much fun as I plan to on “sending and returning” it from Santa. I’m still playing around with an ai picture and letter but here’s the idea so far! And I’m going to play around with some “official” North Pole stationary as well 😄
https://preview.redd.it/8gwohpt51g7g1.jpeg?width=1024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6e3e4be1d6b006cbae4fcee1db2fe46da976b36e
🎅 December 2025
To My Dearest Friend,
Hoo-hoo-hooray! Thank you so much for sending your special friend, Mikily, on a whirlwind trip back to the North Pole. What an important and thoughtful thing you did!
I understand exactly why you sent them. Accidents happen—especially when you have a tiny, magical elf in the house! You were very brave and honest to send them back so quickly and ask for my help. That shows me you have a wonderful, caring heart, and that's the greatest kind of magic there is!
I'm happy to tell you that Mikily is doing perfectly fine. They enjoyed a nice mug of hot cocoa with a few of the other North Pole Scout Elves while I gave them a very special "Magic Recharge." It involved a sprinkle of starlight, a dash of laughter, and a whispered promise of more Christmas joy for you.
Their magic is fully restored and twinkling brighter than Rudolph's nose!
We've already sent Mikily on their way back to your house, and they should arrive very soon, ready for more fun. Remember, the best way to keep your elf's magic strong is to be kind, believe in the Christmas spirit, and always try your best!
Keep up the great work, and I'll see you soon!
With lots of North Pole love,
Santa Claus North Pole Workshop
Ok this is way above & beyond!! You're gonna make a memory that kid will never forget! Good job 👏🏼
Go get something shiny (like blue and white aquarium rocks), put them in a small bag, and put them back in the mailbox explaining that they’ve been infused with North Pole magic, and if he ever touches his elf again, he can use those rocks to bring his magic back!!!
Also, if he starts to make this a habit, include a little note to the parents that the youngster needs to learn about proper postage 🤣🤣🤣
I was a CCA in a literal “1 route office” that made bank by traveling between small rural cities for a year and a half, so I approached these kind of situations with some “small town” levity. Maybe you carriers in bigger cities might have a different perspective.
Granted, I’m the dad that takes these spontaneous opportunities with my kids to the nth degree, so I know I’m extra, but I’ve created some really good memories with my kids 😊
This deserves rewards! This is freaking awesome! I have to steal this idea because our elf is always losing his magic because one of the 3 have accidentally touched them. Thank you for this!!!
Im a witch. In that I focus more on spells, cleansing, etc. My kids always knew this. My daughter being a decade younger than her brother, she grew up with "my mommy is a witch" and she carried it with great pride! She touched her elf one night when she was around 4yo. She ran to me asking to use my magic. I told her a secret way I could give her my magic but it would expire in 10 seconds so she had to be quick. I rub hands together, making them warm, then blew inhaled deep and blew into my hands then carefully placed the "magic" into her palms. She was directed to pour the magic out of her hands over the elf and then wait until the next day. We had MANY "mommy, I need your magic" moments! This brought back that memory. She is about to be 13 and stopped believing in Santa at 8. Her brother? We HAD to tell him. I, too, went above and beyond. We had a hand-made rubber stamp store - owner was pushing his 90s. I had Santa and the kids names made up without them ever knowing. Every gift had stamps on them. They never saw wrapping paper until it came time for them to pick out what they wanted. We set it out like we did with cookies. This made it so much more believable for them somehow.
Just take it back in a few days. Don’t be a Scrooge lol
I'd bring it up to management, but my thought would be to toss it into a priority mail bag, address it to the parents, and deliver it tomorrow.
We actually do send those to Santa in Santa clause indiana where they have volunteers to reply to them.
No postage on it though. Needs to be handled locally.
Ya and I was gonna link but it looks like the window has closed on it anyways.
Send a reply back. This is one of the best things about being a postal carrier.
If I were that parent I’d love to find it left with a lil note from you as Santa 🥰 saying something like “Luckily I’ve cured Mikily but you must be more careful with our beloved helpers!”
The Post Office actually use to have Santa Letter Templates that offices could download. As Postmaster , I always gave a few volunteer employees time to come back early from their routes and get our local Santa Letter replies ready for delivery the next day. I'd buy a big tub of candy canes to put in the envelopes. They would put them on the cases ready for the next day. It is important for the carriers to write the address of the house where they picked it up, so we could actually reply. They are supposed to be sent downtown but I never trusted them so we kept it in-house.
Easy, use AI to doctor a photo with the elf getting its magic back. Put it back in the box on Christmas Eve with a letter and a candy cane.
Is the elf a dead rat? 🐀
Send it to santa
Obviously deliver it to Santa, wym?
Parents were supposed to get that...oops
Throw it away, I bet that kids a little piece of shit.
Yall must have alot of undertime. I’m not touching that.
Once you are retired and look back on your career, these little moments that you made for your customers will be all that mattered.
Nah, me enjoying my retirement will be all that matters
Trash
Wait, yall aint uploading the letters to Santa to the usps website?
This must be while everyone keeps saying their letters arent showing up.
Why arent yall putting them on the sitr for people to adopt? Yall hate Christmas? Kidd?
What are you supposed to do with it? Dead mail.
Santa Letters: Gateway to Kindness - Who we are - About.usps.com https://about.usps.com/who/profile/history/santa-letters.htm
https://preview.redd.it/1sudpqv69f7g1.jpeg?width=1320&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7273b8e9ff61781e477a088b55c4245432d8001d
To all downvoting, I responded so confidently because I work at the main office window in my area that directly handles the Operation Santa responses. Maybe my office is doing it incorrectly, but my office and the surrounding cities were all told any Operation Santa letter with no postage gets dead letter’ed and that it was to be treated as any other piece of mail. We have done this the same way the previous 7 years I’ve been there, but like I said, it’s possible there’s been a miscommunication and we’ve been doing it wrong.
Santa letters with no postage aren't officially sent on, but many offices have someone who takes care of them locally instead of dead lettering them.