Send your letters to Santa Claus, Indiana
SANTA CLAUS, Ind. (WEHT) – It’s that time of year and children across the globe – near or far – are sending their Christmas list to Santa Claus.
In Santa Claus, Indiana, Santa and his special helpers are responding to thousands of children across the world.
It’s touching to know that the Christmas spirit lives on no matter the age, old or young, Santa’s special helpers gather for weeks or even months to respond to over 25,000 individual letters sent from countries like China, Russia, England, and right here at home.
No matter the disagreements between some nations the common goal is for a child’s face to light up when they hear form jolly ole Saint Nick. Every letter is read, answered, and responded to with heart, passion and Christmas spirit.
“We want every child to be able to receive a letter from Santa Claus and that means that Santa needs lots of help with volunteers – nobody ever pays for a letter a stamp or anything this is all volunteer,” Pat Koch stated.
Countless volunteers work around the clock, seven days a week, to respond to letters like this one that reads “Dear Santa, I’m not eating my booger anymore, so now you can bring me some toys”, or like this letter from Trenton, “Dear Santa, I want a trip to Pennsylvania by myself with my very own ticket.” A funny letter, filled with innocence can make us all laugh, but for Chris Sheffield some letters are filled with the reality and heartbreak.
“They asked to have their family back together and that’s hard to write back to it really tugs on your heart strings,” Sheffield recalled.
According to head elf Pat Koch they see it all, letters written in Spanish, German, and even Mandarin, but that doesn’t stop their goal. With the help of each other, every wish is read, every wish is taken seriously, and every wish is responded to.
“The key to answering the letter is to read the child’s letter that the child has written to take very seriously what the child has said because they really pour their heart out there maybe some parents don’t know the child tells us,” Koch said.
And whether you believe, or you don’t, he’s making his list, and he’s checking it twice, he will find out if you were naughty or nice.
“I really believe in Santa Claus and I think children should believe in Santa Claus,” Koch said.
Since 1914, Santa’s helpers have been responding to millions of letters. Santa’s Elves are asking that all letters be submitted no later than Dec. 20 for a reply.
If you want to send your letters to Santa, you can send them to: Santa Claus, PO Box 1, Santa Claus IN 47579.