Many kids' letters to Santa are being shredded by the postal system this year. Credit: imurf, Flickr
A U.S. Postal Service spokeswoman told Staten Island Live that's the official recommendation from the USPS for offices not participating in the revived Operation Santa program (which almost died entirely earlier this year). Postal officials have been responding to kids since 1912, getting help from local organizations since 1940 to keep up with the huge influx every holiday.
With enhanced privacy regulations for the volunteers, the list of participating offices on the USPS site is woefully short and missing dozens of states. The letters are being shredded to protect children's privacy and keep the letters "out of the wrong hands." It sounds like there will be a lot of paper to be recycled.
They'll have to manage the shredding between their other duties. The post office expects 97 million customers during the holidays plus 41 million shipping online via usps.com. Some 30 million pounds of mail will be sent overseas, including war zones.
maeida,12-04-2009, 9:44PM
That is what is so nice about living in a small town (or village). When my grand daughter was about 4 yrs old she wrote Santa a letter and the Post Mistress knew all of us. So she had it put into my mail box. What a joy!
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Cliff,12-07-2009, 9:10AM
Kids shouldn't be writing them in the first place. Santa is nothing but a lie anyway. What a way to bring kids up, lying to them and then the disappointment when they find out there isn't one.
Kim,12-07-2009, 2:15PM
I agree, this is great. Let kids be kids. Merry Christmas.....
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SC,12-07-2009, 6:15AM
So what's the problem here? Should they FedX them to the North Pole? Who writes this stuff...
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Marshall,12-07-2009, 6:48AM
Shredding is a good idea because you dont really know where all those
wish list letters to Santa are going to in fact. Santa Claus roles are played out
by our parents at home.
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luvthespiritofxmas,12-07-2009, 7:03AM
I told my little ones that i have santas email address , so they print their lists and give them to me so i can type a copy for santa. So i am able to keep their printed lists in a file so that we can pull them out and look at them years down the road.
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lilsuzq32,12-07-2009, 7:05AM
I will be boycotting the Post Office even more than usual, based on this heartless news
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Cor,12-07-2009, 11:29AM
Did you even read it? They're doing it so the letters don't get into the hands of nasty people. Sure, it may be a little over cautious but it's not heartless.
Just me,12-07-2009, 1:34PM
Part of the reason the USPS is having to do this is due to lack of revenue because of the number of people not using the USPS with email and online purchasing. What else are they going to do?
cee,12-07-2009, 7:46AM
a-holes
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Craig,12-07-2009, 9:01AM
Throw out those stupid letters! Christmas isn't about a fat jolly man. Its about Jesus!
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Lynnia,12-07-2009, 8:51PM
Actually Jesus was born in spring/summer time. It would be impossible for him to be born in the winter. Even in Bethlehem it would have been too cold to bring out their sheep. So in theory Shepards could not have been out in the pastures negating the whole experience. Plus it's actually set during solstice a time for wiccans and old pagans. Celts celebrated christmas before anyone else did and they were NOT christian.
Christmas is more about togetherness and love than it is Jesus christ. While I may say thats what he IS supposed to stand for (even if some extremists don't act like it) it's about the message and not the person. Christians worship a person and not the message he was spreading. By claiming the holiday is about "jesus" you're negating the fact of what the holiday is all about. Peace and Love and in my eyes anyone can celebrate that no matter what religion you are in.
Craig,12-07-2009, 9:00AM
Throw out those stupid letters! Christmas isn't about a fat jolly man. Its about Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world!
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Drew,12-07-2009, 9:49AM
no actually it is not about jesus christ, "christmas" was appropriated from the winter solstice by the christians and pre dates christianity it is more a time of love and joy for one's fellow human being no matter his or her religion. and as far as santa claus goes he is based on Saint Nicholas who traveled around and gave gifts to good boys and girls.
Koz,12-07-2009, 9:21AM
Typical of the government to burst your bubble.
Now it is the kids they are picking on.
If they wish to ruin Christmas for the kid maybe they should start with their own.
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stay golden,12-07-2009, 9:31AM
I hate the holidays. Especially Christmas, but come on now. Little kids eat this crap up, so why make a big deal. Its a letter to a fake guy that you know you used to think was real at some point. Just because you are miserable with you own life does not mean you should take whatever fake joy is still around. Old cranky hags.
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cange,12-07-2009, 10:07AM
It's kind of sad that all these letters go unread, and yet many, many people have chosen to purchase and read Sarah Palin's book. Personally, I think I'd find the Santa letters far more enlightening.
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hdkimbo,12-07-2009, 10:16AM
One of the biggest problems with todays envirnment is that parents don't want to be parents. They want to be their kids "FRIENDS". Well guess what, your not there friend and you shouldn't be. You are there parents, the person that instills disapline, the person that teachs right from wrong. Why can't you people let kids be kids?? The world has become a crappy place with fighting on our streets, shootings, murders, missing people, etc..... Kids need to have something to look forward to, somehting that they can get excited about. There is NO harm in letting our children believe in Santa or the easter bunny. For goodness sakes, get a grip. They will be adults soon enough, having to deal with the difficult situations. Just let them be kids.... Merry Christmas to all !!!!!
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Len,12-07-2009, 11:04AM
If only they would shred the rugrats who write these letters as well.
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