For many kids, writing a letter to Santa is one of the best parts of the holiday season. But for some families, those letters can also include wishes that may be out of reach for families without a little help.

Thanks to a beloved USPS program, both sides of that tradition have a way to take part.

The U.S. Postal Service has officially opened USPS Operation Santa for 2026, beginning the 114th year of a program that connects letters written to Santa with people willing to help fulfill those holiday wishes. Children and families can begin mailing letters now, while adults in North Forest and across the country will have an opportunity later this fall to adopt letters and shop for the writers behind them.

“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,” said Sheila Holman, vice president of marketing for the Postal Service. “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.”

How USPS Operation Santa Works

The process is fairly simple: children and families write to Santa, USPS processes eligible letters and removes personal identifying information before selected letters are posted online. Verified adopters can then choose letters they would like to fulfill, purchase gifts and have those gifts sent to the recipients while the writers’ identities remain protected. 

That means there are two very different ways for North Forest residents to participate — families can write a letter, or residents looking for a holiday giving opportunity can become letter adopters.

USPS stresses that mailing a letter does not guarantee it will appear online, be adopted or result in a gift. The program depends on voluntary adopters around the country. 

Have a Child Who Wants to Write to Santa? Here’s What Families Need to Do

Letters are being accepted now and must be postmarked by Dec. 5 to be eligible for the 2026 program.

Letters should be mailed to:

Santa Claus
123 Elf Road
North Pole, 88888

Parents helping children prepare a letter should make sure the envelope includes the writer’s full return address, including an apartment number when applicable, and the correct First-Class Mail postage. USPS also recommends putting the full name and return address inside the letter itself.

When writing a wish list, children are encouraged to make their requests easy for Santa — and potential adopters — to understand. USPS recommends writing legibly, listing requested gifts in order of preference and being specific about items rather than making vague requests.

Families sending letters for more than one child can place the letters together in a single envelope, using enough postage for the combined weight. Classrooms and organizations should instead mail each child’s letter separately in its own stamped envelope with a valid return address showing where the child will be staying during the holiday season.

There is no need to create an Operation Santa account simply to send a letter. Accounts are required for adopters, not letter writers.

Want to Help a Family? Adults Can Adopt a Letter

For adults searching for a meaningful way to give back this Christmas, the other half of USPS Operation Santa begins in November.

Adopter registration and identity verification open Nov. 2, followed by the start of letter adoption on Nov. 16. Individuals and groups can participate, and verified adopters can browse available letters and choose one or more they would like to fulfill. 

Adopters can also search for letters geographically, giving residents the option to look for requests closer to their own area.

Once a letter is selected, an adopter can shop in one of two ways. Gifts can be purchased through the program’s online Santa’s Gift Shoppe, which handles delivery directly, or adopters can shop on their own and bring packaged gifts to a participating Post Office for shipment. Those mailing packages themselves are responsible for postage costs. (USPS Operation Santa)

USPS also allows people to work together. A family, group of friends, coworkers or community organization can form a team and help fulfill letters together, including letters from an entire household.

The last day to adopt a letter is Dec. 12, which is also the Postal Service’s recommended date for shipping Operation Santa gifts for expected arrival before Christmas. USPS encourages adopters to ship earlier whenever possible. 

USPS Operation Santa 2026 Dates to Know

For North Forest families considering either side of the program, the major dates are:

• Sept. 14: Letters to Santa began being accepted
• Nov. 2: Registration and ID verification open for adopters
• Nov. 16: Letter adoption begins
• Dec. 5: Final day letters can be postmarked for consideration
• Dec. 12: Final day to adopt a letter and recommended deadline to ship gifts (USPS Operation Santa)

New letters are expected to be added to the Operation Santa website at uspsoperationsanta.com throughout the adoption period, and some can be claimed quickly. Residents interested in adopting may want to check the site more than once if few letters are available during their first visit. 

A Holiday Tradition With Two Ways to Participate

For a child, participating can begin with a sheet of paper, a pencil and a trip to the mailbox.

For an adopter, it might begin weeks later while scrolling through letters and finding one that feels possible to answer.

That simple connection — between someone willing to ask and a stranger willing to give — has kept USPS Operation Santa going for more than a century. For local families, churches, businesses, civic organizations and neighbors searching for a hands-on holiday service project, it also offers a way to participate without needing to know the recipient personally.

Families can find letter-writing instructions, printable templates and program rules, while prospective adopters can find registration, gift and shipping information, at USPSOperationSanta.com.

Residents can stay tuned to My Neighborhood News for more local holiday events, charitable programs and family activities happening throughout the community.

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.

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