Merry Christmas!
Being Santa to a child!
This year I participated as a secret Santa Claus! I adopted real letters to Santa written by underprivileged kids from New York, and then I sent the gifts directly to the children who wrote to him. Some of these letters did break my heart. Some of the letters (written by kids, parents, and adults) asked for things I could not provide them, and some letters just wanted to tell you about their struggles. Some will give you hope, and for sure, some will make you smile. There is no middle man or charity; it is micro-philanthropy, direct from you to a child when you give in this way.
For me, wrapping gifts is such an art, and it is a great way to exercise my creative side while also creating something that will bring other people joy.
Since 1912, the USPS Operation Santa has permitted the public to read and adopt children's letters to Santa every December. Anyone in the US can print out a letter they adopt from the USPS website, together with a barcoded shipping label. USPS staff redact family names and addresses from letters before posting them online to protect children's privacy. So, you do not know where you are sending the gift, and the parents have no way of finding you, and you are not allowed to place your name and address on the gift and mailing. It is pretty hard for me as I do not know about my gifts for the kids. Do they like the presentation or gifts?
I have attached a few pictures from my experience! A couple of the kid's letters I adopted, my gift wrapping fun, envelopes that carry all of the letters regarding my gifts, and a few of the presents I got the kids!
