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.
Evelyn,12-07-2009, 12:26PM
People who celebrate Christmas are usually in one of two groups:
1. Religious Christians who spend the day in church in the solemn manner in which this sacred holy day was meant to be observed,
OR
2. The tell your kids the tales about Santa and Rudolph and then go give the spoiled little ones everything their heart ever desired because Christmas is "for kids" and is the "Season of Giving". What a load of bull they've sold you, and you not only bought it, but went into debt to get there.
I'm not an atheist, but we don't celebrate Christmas either.
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Oprah,12-07-2009, 12:52PM
Must be the same a-holes that can't recognize that today is Pearl Harbor Day.....I guess they are afraid of Toyota and Honda......Obama sucks jap dick
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crystal,12-07-2009, 1:20PM
this is so sad people i dont knwo why people just have to have a poor attitude there is a santa claus u have to believe and if you dont then dont ruin it for little kids yes there trying to keep it out of the crazy people hands but they can hire someone and do a backround check to answer these letters this is the most saddest thing that i have heard in a long time so why dont u all just stop
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Baroness-1015,12-07-2009, 1:24PM
Cliff,
I feel bad for you. I was not upset when the time came for me to know there was no Santa, thats part of growing up. But kids believe in magic and they need to because there is going to come a time all to soon when they are going to see the world for what it is. All I can ever think about now is how all the Soldiers are fighting, dying and away from their loved ones, all the less fortunate people in the world, war ravaged countries and the countless amount of greed that goes with the "Holiday" Season. Kids are going to discover these real truths soon enough and sadly, some already have. Let them have Santa, flying reindeer and the North Pole for as long as possible. And for all who read this, I ask that you don't forget the reason we have Christmas. Not Holiday, but CHRISTmas.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
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Elaine,12-07-2009, 1:27PM
Read The Polar Express to your children...not the movie, THE BOOK...Christmas lives in the hearts of children everywhere and with adults who truly believe in the spirit and magic of Christmas. It is a feelling of family, of friends, of giving and making the world a better place. No, there is not a "real" Santa...but those of us who had parents who helped us have an imagination believe in the spirit of him...there is nothing wrong with that.
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HELLO DAWN,12-07-2009, 1:33PM
Seriously !!!!!!!!! They holidays are just not what they used to be and how sad for future generations not to be able to enjoy the thrill of receiving the that letter from Santa.
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ellisclevenger,12-07-2009, 1:54PM
The GRINCH is alive and well and posting here. Did you people ever believe in Santa Clause? If you are having trouble with the concept, try reading "Virginia's Letter to Santa Clause". Hopefully, your local paper runs it every Christmas. I (at 65+) still believe. With everything bad in the world, it's nice to believe in the giving to others that Santa Clause embodies. Too much Political Correctness in this world. Now Santa is the target.
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El,12-07-2009, 2:46PM
I still believe. I wouldn't allow anyone to take the magic away from me. Thank you for still believing too. If a few more people would just remember that innocent time in their lives there might not be so much hatred in this world.
Norma Beran,12-07-2009, 2:10PM
Oh for pete's sake!! What else could they do with those letters?? Afterall, Santa is a fact of fiction and the North Pole does not exist. Whoever let the cat out of the bag about the post office shredding them (if it is true) should be sentenced to hard labor up there at that cold "North Pole"!!!! They HAVE to do something with the letters!!!!
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jeff,12-07-2009, 2:41PM
What they really aren't forwarded and Santa does not read them? Oh brother!
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wstarhopper,12-07-2009, 3:03PM
I am a retired ( Thank God) from the post office. ZFor years the Post Office has come off as the biggest grinch around. They have no idea what customer service is all about. I used to have a shirt that said " Scrooge was a Postal Employee" This is one more black eye for the Post Office . If they want to stay in business they had better change their ways FAST!!!
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MICHELLE,12-07-2009, 3:42PM
Drew 12-07-2009 @ 9:49AM no actually it is not about jesus christ_____ Than why is it called CHRISTMAS? Seems self-explanatory to me! Anyway, Hope you have a very Merry Christmas!
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MICHELLE,12-07-2009, 3:53PM
Why all the argument? You believe or you don't. If you don't believe, in either Santa or Jesus, then you have no holiday celebration coming up on December 25, so there's nothing to get all upset about. Just go on with your life and whatever you live for and the rest of us will go on about our lives and beliefs. As a Believer I find Santa to be a wonderful example of the teachings of Jesus. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!
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JoAnn,12-07-2009, 3:58PM
Christmas IS about Jesus, it is the the day He was born. Let us never forget the reason for the season.
It is sad that the Post Office has to discard all the wonderful letters from children, but it is understandable in our day and age that we do have to protect their well being. Oh for the simple life again, when children could be children without a care in the world.
Happy Holidays to all!
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PEPPA,12-07-2009, 4:09PM
Don't know what the right answer is............This is a tough call,
and I'm glad I don't have to come up with answer.
;0)) MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE ;0))
MAY GOD BLESS EACH, AND EVERYONE OF YOU !!
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