Be An Elf

BeAnElf.org answered the saddest letters to Santa this year and sent gifts

beanelf — Fri, 23 Dec 2022 13:09:46 +0000

Christmas volunteers adopted actual letters to Santa and sent gifts directly to the children who wrote him. Some letters asked Santa only for new shoes or food.

Guess who wrote to Santa?
USPS Operation Santa ® volunteers answered
a letter to Santa from this little girl.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES, December 23, 2022 /EINPresswire.com/ — Some of the children’s letters to Santa ask only for new shoes, clothes, or Christmas dinner. Letters from parents are often cries for help, saying they lost their jobs, have health or other life challenges, and have no money to buy their kids gifts. Many moms list their kids’ clothing sizes and enclose their kids’ letters in the same envelope.

The US Postal Service’s® Operation Santa^® has made the saddest letters to Santa available for adoption by the public every year since 1912.

Although not affiliated with the USPS^®, Be An Elf is a tax-exempt charity that supports the program in several key ways. Our news releases increase public awareness of the USPS® program, and thanks to a major grant from Google for free advertising, we recruit thousands of new volunteers every year who in turn send gifts to kids. We also provide a great guide for newcomers, and the sign-up list at our website enables us to remind thousands of people every November that it’s time again to volunteer.

People who are too busy to adopt a letter and mail gifts themselves can make a tax-deductible contribution at BeAnElf.org. Donations enable the charity to send more gifts and bring joy to low-income children at Christmas. In addition to the letters we adopted at the Postal Service’s® website USPSoperationSanta.com, our charity has received hundreds of heartbreaking emails to Santa, but we could not adopt them all.

Sign up at BeAnElf.org to be reminded about USPS Operation Santa ^® next year. When you adopt a letter yourself, it’s micro-philanthropy, direct from you to a family, with no charity involved. You can mail your gifts directly to the child or family who wrote the letter, and the post office will deliver your gifts.

Be An Elf adopts as many letters to Santa as donations permit. One letter we adopted this year from a 12 year old said, “I’m sad this Christmas because my Mom lost her job. I’m not asking for much, but I need new clothes. I feel ashamed sometimes at school.”

We also offer tips for struggling families asking for help getting Christmas gifts for their kids. Not least, we support companies by providing a plan to invite employees to join a team and adopt a letter to Santa.

Some letters we adopt are from single moms who say their children are still too young to write and list their kids’ ages and clothing sizes. Be An Elf uses a portion of our donations to send the Moms gift cards; we trust they will buy what their kids need most. Some of the Santa letters we’ve adopted in the past are posted at our website.

Your tax-deductible gift to Be An Elf means that more low-income kids will get presents on Christmas morning in 2023. Donate at BeAnElf.org/give .

Thank you for supporting our worthy work. We’re an all-volunteer 501c3 group, so your tax-deductible gift goes a long way here. Please donate, and together we will put smiles on more children’s faces this holiday season.

You’ll rediscover the true meaning of Christmas, and help bring joy to kids in real need on Christmas morning.

“Some Be An Elf volunteers feel alone and sad over the holidays, and find comfort and inspiration volunteering for this program. It’s micro-philanthropy, direct from each volunteer to a child.” — Patrick Reynolds

Contact: Patrick Reynolds
Be An Elf

Visit Be An Elf on social media:

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Other

View this news release on EIN Presswire

Last days for public to adopt the saddest letters to Santa, available to volunteers online through USPS Operation Santa ®

beanelf — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 15:56:18 +0000

Until December 19th, Christmas volunteers may adopt actual letters to Santa online and mail gifts directly to the children who wrote them. Some letters ask Santa only for a warm coat, new shoes, or food. BeAnElf.org is an indispensable guide both for new volunteers sending gifts to kids, and for those writing letters, hoping for a brighter Christmas.

Some children’s letters to Santa ask for only for new shoes, a backpack for school, or Christmas dinner. Some letters are from parents are often cries for help, saying they lost their jobs, have health or other life challenges, and have no money to buy their kids gifts for Christmas. They often list their kids’ ages and clothing sizes and enclose their kids’ letters in the same envelope.

The saddest letters to Santa have been made available for adoption by the public by the USPS® every year since 1912. In 2020, the traditional walk-in program ceased, and the program went online.

Only a few days remain to adopt a letter to Santa at USPSoperationSanta.com®. The site will close for letter adoption on December 19th. Gifts to kids must be mailed by the 19th to be delivered in time for Christmas, but may be mailed through December and still get delivered.

It’s micro-philanthropy, direct from each volunteer to a child, with no charity involved. Volunteers may mail their gifts directly to the child or family who wrote the letter they adopted.

Some people feel alone and sad over Christmas, and find comfort and inspiration volunteering for this program. Volunteers catch the true spirit of the holidays, knowing they’ll put smiles on the faces of underprivileged kids on Christmas morning.

In November postal workers began screening thousands of letters to Santa, looking for ones from children and families in need. When they find letters that asking for basic necessities, postal elves upload them to the site. Those writing letters hoping for gifts must mail them by December 12 to be considered for the website.

Kids who learn about the USPS® program will be happy to know there are volunteers out there who want to send extra gifts to kids whose families are struggling financially. They should know that the postal elves always put every child’s letter right back in the mail to the North Pole, and Santa will deliver his gifts to them, too.

Be An El f is a tax-exempt Christmas charity that offers an excellent online guide to the USPS® program, with plenty of helpful tips for new volunteers. The group also adopts letters from the site, and uses tax-deductible donations from the public to send gifts to families.

Thanks to a major in-kind grant from Google for free advertising, Be An Elf generates tremendous public awareness of the USPS Operation Santa® program every year, and has recruited thousands of volunteers who have sent gifts to kids.

There is also a page at the site for companies who wish to offer employees the option to join small teams and adopt a family for Christmas.

Christmas volunteers catch the true spirit of the holidays, and put smiles on children’s faces come Christmas morning. For an excellent guide to the USPS Operation Santa ® program, visit BeAnElf.org.

View this news release on PRweb, where it has downloadable high-res art and clickable social media links.

Saddest letters to Santa may now be adopted by public

beanelf — Tue, 29 Nov 2022 13:56:00 +0000

Guess who wrote a letter to Santa? This little girl received gifts from USPS® Operation Santa ® volunteers one Christmas Eve, with her sisters looking on. Smiles all around![/caption]

TIP for families seeking gifts: Write to Santa as a family, and put all your letters in one envelope, including a cover letter from a parent — or only one child may get gifts from volunteers.

The good news is, all kids will still get gifts from Santa, since postal elves put every letter right back in the mail to the North Pole on the same day!

This single Mom cried in her driveway when volunteers’ gifts arrived unexpectedly on Christmas eve from volunteers. She said she had no money to buy her children gifts for Christmas.

These photos were taken in 2004 and 2005, when children’s addresses were still on the backs of envelopes and volunteers could deliver gifts to families at home.

To protect the privacy of children, their addresses and last names have been removed from all letters posted at the USPS Operation Santa ® website.

Be An Elf recommends that friends or employees at companies team up to adopt one or more letters to Santa, and share the work, the fun, and the cost!

Patrick Reynolds, Chief Elf at BeAnElf.org, holds letters to Santa adopted by the charity.

BeAnElf.org is an excellent guide for newcomers to the USPS® program, both for volunteers who wish to send gifts and for families seeking help with Christmas.

Be An Elf’s site also offers a plan for companies to offer employees the option to volunteer to form team to adopt a family for Christmas.

View this news release on PRweb, where it has downloadable high res art and clickable social media links.

The saddest letters to Santa may now be adopted by public through USPS Operation Santa ®

Summary:

Letters to Santa from kids asking only for a warm coat, new shoes, or food may be adopted by Christmas volunteers through USPS Operation Santa®. BeAnElf.org offers tips for sending gifts directly to families that will double the impact of your holiday donations this year.

SOURCE: Be An Elf

LOS ANGELES, November 29, 2022

Some of the children’s letters to Santa ask for only a warm coat, new shoes, a backpack for school, or Christmas dinner. Others are written by Moms whose kids are too little to write, and list their kids’ ages and clothing sizes. Some tell why they need help with Christmas this year: they lost their jobs, or have health or other life challenges.

The USPS® has made the saddest letters to Santa available for adoption by the public every year since 1912. The program went online in 2020.

USPSoperationSanta.com® is now open for letter adoption. Those who volunteer may mail their gifts directly to the child or family who wrote the letter they adopt. It’s micro-philanthropy, direct from each volunteer to a child, with no charity involved.

This month postal workers have been screening thousands of letters to Santa, looking for ones from children and families in need. When they find letters that ask for basic necessities, postal elves upload them to the site. Letters will continue to be added to the site until mid-December.

Kids who learn about the program will be happy to learn that postal workers always put every letter right back in the mail to the North Pole, and Santa will deliver his gifts, too.

BeAnElf.org is a tax-exempt Christmas charity that offers an excellent online guide to the USPS® program, with plenty of helpful tips for new volunteers. The group also adopts letters themselves, and uses tax-deductible donations to send gifts to families. Thanks to a major in-kind grant from Google for free advertising, Be An Elf generates tremendous public awareness of the USPS Operation Santa® program every year, and has recruited thousands of volunteers who sent gifts to kids. There is also a page at the site for companies who wish to offer employees the option to join small teams that will adopt a family for Christmas.

Catch the true spirit of the holidays, and put smiles on children’s faces on Christmas morning. For an excellent guide to the USPS Operation Santa program ®, visit BeAnElf.org.

Some Operation Santa volunteers feel alone and sad over the holidays, and find comfort and inspiration volunteering for this program. It’s micro-philanthropy, direct from each volunteer to a child. People catch the true spirit of the holidays and put smiles on the faces of needy kids on Christmas.

Tips

BeAnElf.org suggests smart gifts, like backpacks, school supplies, new (not used) clothes, books, and a small gift for the mothers, whom the site says are sometimes feeling sad over the holidays.

Pay special attention to the letters from parents, whose children may be too little to write their own letters. Letters listing their children’s names, clothing and shoe sizes, or mentioning employment and health challenges, are signs their family truly needs help for the holidays.

Saddest letters to Santa may now be adopted by public through USPS Operation Santa®

beanelf — Tue, 29 Nov 2022 15:04:27 +0000

Letters to Santa from kids asking only for a warm coat, new shoes, or food may be adopted by Christmas volunteers through USPS Operation Santa®. BeAnElf.org is an excellent guide to volunteering for the wonderful holiday program.

LOS ANGELES (PRWEB) NOVEMBER 29, 2022 — Some of the children’s letters to Santa ask for only a warm coat, new shoes, a backpack for school, or Christmas dinner. Others are written by Moms whose kids are too little to write, and list their kids’ ages and clothing sizes. Some tell why they need help with Christmas this year: they lost their jobs, or have health or other life challenges.

The USPS® has made the saddest letters to Santa available for adoption by the public every year since 1912. The program went online in 2020.

Kids who learn about the program will be happy to learn that postal workers always put every letter right back in the mail to the North Pole, and Santa will deliver his gifts, too.

BeAnElf.org® is a tax-exempt Christmas charity that offers an excellent online guide to the USPS® program, with plenty of helpful tips for new volunteers. The group also adopts letters themselves, and uses tax-deductible donations to send gifts to families. Thanks to a major in-kind grant from Google for free advertising, Be An Elf generates tremendous public awareness of the USPS Operation Santa® program every year, and has recruited thousands of volunteers who sent gifts to kids. There is also a page at the site for companies who wish to offer employees the option to join small teams that will adopt a family for Christmas.

Catch the true spirit of the holidays, and put smiles on children’s faces on Christmas morning. For an excellent guide to the USPS Operation Santa® program, visit BeAnElf.org.

QUOTE:
“Some Operation Santa volunteers feel alone and sad over the holidays, and find comfort and inspiration volunteering for this program. It’s micro-philanthropy, direct from each volunteer to a child. People catch the true spirit of the holidays and put smiles on the faces of needy kids on Christmas.”

CONTACT: Patrick Reynolds, Chief Elf
patrick2@BeAnElf.org
Link to this news release online, with additional art: https://www.prweb.com/releases/2022/11/prweb19044929.htm

Children in Need At Christmas: Ways To Volunteer And Help for the Holidays

beanelf — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 05:03:30 +0000

Christmas is a time of giving, and your generosity will help children in need and put smiles on the faces. If you’re looking for ways to help children in need or help a family in need at Christmas, here are some great ideas for volunteering. In this blog post, we’ll discuss a few ways you can make a difference in the lives of families struggling financially this holiday season. We hope this information will inspire you to make a difference to them and to their kids this Christmas.

Why Might A Family Be In Need At Christmas?

There are several reasons why a family might be in need at Christmas. Many are struggling to make ends meet and can’t afford to buy gifts for their children. Maybe they’ve recently lost their job or had another financial setback. Some have health challenges. Many are caregivers are grandparents who don’t have family members nearby to help them out during the holidays.

Whatever the reason, many families and children in need often find themselves feeling overwhelmed and alone during the holiday season.

How Can You Help Children In Need?

Shelters

If you’d like to help a family in need this Christmas, you can start by searching for families living in a local shelter. Many families are housed in shelters due to financial difficulties or circumstances beyond their control. By bringing them with a hot meal, a warm blanket or two, or toys for the kids “from Santa,”, you can help them get through this tough time.

Food Banks

Another great way to help needy families is by donating to or volunteering at a local food bank. Food banks provide families with essential items like groceries and household supplies. Many welcome volunteers for the holidays, and the extra help makes the season a little brighter for those in need and for volunteers, too.

Toy Drives

One of the most popular ways to help Children in need during the holidays is by participating in a toy drive. Toy drives collect and distribute new and gently used toys to families who might not be able to afford them otherwise. This is a great way to ensure every child has something to open on Christmas morning! Google “toy drive” to find local orgs.

Churches & Community Centers

Churches and community centers are often at the forefront of groups who help children in need during the holidays. They may offer programs like holiday meals or toy drives, or have a list of families who need assistance. If you’re looking for a way to help, check with your local church or community center to see how you can get involved.

Giving Trees

Giving trees are another great way to help children in need during the holidays. These trees are typically set up in malls or other public places, and decorated with paper ornaments that list a family’s needs. You can choose an ornament from the tree, purchase the item the child is requesting, and then donate it directly to the family in need.

Children with a parent in prison need gifts too

Prison Fellowship’s Angel Tree program sends gifts every year to the children of people in prison, and helps make their kids’ Christmas a little brighter.

Fire & Police

Another way to help children in need is by donate toys to your local fire or police station. Many of these stations collect toys, preferably new ones, and other items for children in need during the holidays. You can drop off your donations at the station or participate in their toy drives.

Active Duty Military

If you know someone serving in the military, you can help them out this holiday by sending them a care package. Care packages often include items like food, Christmas cookies, toiletries, and other necessities. This is a great way to show your support for our troops and their families.

Military family support offices are another excellent resource to help children in need. These offices provide families with resources and help for the holidays. They may also offer programs to help military children in need this Christmas. The Toys for Tots program sponsored by the Marines collects and distributes toys to needy families.

Hospitals

Many children spend Christmas in the hospital, whether for their personal medical struggles or those of a parent or sibling. Hospitals often host toy drives and other holiday programs to help Children in need. You may donate new, unwrapped toys or volunteer your time to help out. Reach out to a local hospital to see if they have a program to help children and their families this Christmas.

Volunteer To Help Children in Need This Christmas

Another great way to help children in need this Christmas is by volunteering your time. Many organizations that help children in need rely heavily on volunteers during the holiday season. You can sign up to help with everything from wrapping gifts to cooking and serving meals. Whatever your skills and availability, there’s sure to be a way for you to get involved!

Don’t Have Time to Volunteer? Donate to a great Christmas Charity for Children In Need

If you’re looking for a way to help children in need this Christmas, but don’t have the time to volunteer, you can always donate to a charity that helps families during the holiday season.

While not affiliated with the United States Postal Service®, Be An Elf supports their annual Operation Letters to Santa® initiative by creating public awareness of the program and recruiting volunteers for it. Be An Elf also adopts letters to Santa and sends gifts to help children in need. Every December since 1912, letters have been sent to Santa, and many request basic necessities like shoes or warm clothing. Volunteers can adopt these letters from the USPS Operation Santa ® website and mail gifts directly to the kids at any of 19,000 postal branches that can scan the barcoded shipping label that prints out with every child’s letter to Santa adopted off the website.

Because of the large volume of Santa letters now posted online by the USPS®, volunteers are needed to fulfill the Christmas wishes of children in need. Be An Elf adopts an increasing number of letters every Christmas, and sends a $100 Target gift card to the parent, tucked into a card marked, “This is for your kids. Love, Santa.” Gifts to the charity are tax-deductible. The more contributions they receive, the more gifts they send to children in need at Christmas.

For more great Christmas charities that help children in need, check out our list of top Christmas charities.

If you’d like to help a family in need, click here to donate!

Volunteer for Christmas from home this year!

Patrick Reynolds — Mon, 15 Nov 2021 17:32:52 +0000

Guess who wrote to Santa? This little girl received gifts from USPS Operation Santa ® volunteers one Christmas Eve, with her sisters looking on. Smiles all around! Write to Santa as a family, and put all your letters in one envelope, including a cover letter from a parent — or only one child may get gifts!

This single Mom cried in her driveway when volunteers’ gifts arrived unexpectedly on Christmas eve from volunteers. She said she had no money to buy her children gifts for Christmas.

Be An Elf recommends that friends team up to adopt one or more letters to Santa, and share the work, the fun, and the cost!

Patrick Reynolds, Chief Elf at BeAnElf.org, holds letters to Santa adopted by the charity.

BeAnElf.org offers an excellent guide to the program for families in need and for volunteers from the public who wish to adopt their sad letters to Santa. Support is also offered to companies to organize employees into teams to adopt children’s letters.

Tips

BeAnElf.org suggests smart gifts, like backpacks, school supplies, new (not used) clothes, books, and a small gift for the mothers, whom the site says are sometimes feeling sad over the holidays.

Pay special attention to the letters from parents, whose children may be too little to write their own letters. Letters listing their children’s names, clothing and shoe sizes, or mentioning employment and health challenges, are signs their family truly needs help for the holidays.

Volunteer for Christmas from home this year!

— Register today to adopt a needy child’s letter to Santa. —

SOURCE: Be An Elf

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 15, 2021 — USPS Operation Santa ® opens to the public today for volunteer registration. BeAnElf.org offers an excellent guide to the program for families in need and for volunteers from the public who wish to adopt their sad letters to Santa. Support is also offered to companies to organize employees into teams to adopt children’s letters.

This year letters to the jolly man at the North Pole have been pouring in. Since November 1, postal workers have been looking for Santa letters from kids whose lists include basic necessities like a warm coat or new shoes, and from parents who describe their struggles with employment or health, and ask volunteers for help with getting their kids Christmas gifts. Some say their children are too little to write, and list their kids’ names, ages, and clothing sizes. Postal elves then upload the saddest letters to USPSoperationsanta.com.

In case any children reading this are wondering, of course the Elves at the Post Office always put the letters right back in the mail to Santa at the North Pole, so Santa will deliver his gifts, too.

Starting November 29th anyone may adopt the letters from home. Children’s family names and addresses are redacted from their letters, when a volunteer adopts a letter online, a barcoded shipping label prints out with each letter. Volunteers use it to mail gifts directly to the child or family who wrote to Santa.

Letters to Santa must be postmarked by December 10 to be selected for the website. The site closes for letter adoption on December 23rd.

The address to write to Santa is:

Santa Claus
123 Elf Road
North Pole 88888

Some people feel alone and sad over Christmas, and find comfort and inspiration volunteering for this program. They catch the true spirit of the holidays, knowing they will put smiles on kids’ faces on Christmas.

Be An Elf is a tax-exempt 501c3 charity and has recruited thousands of volunteers for USPS Operation Santa ®. The group also supports the program by offering a guide for needy families seeking help with Christmas, and tips for effective volunteering. The US Postal Service® has not missed a year since first offering the children’s letters in 1912.

Ho, ho, ho and Happy Holidays! To learn more, visit www.BeAnElf.org.

CONTACT:

Patrick Reynolds

Be An Elf

Email

Source: Be An Elf

Website BeAnElf.org

Visit BeAnElf.org

Need help with Christmas? A guide to USPS Operation Santa ®

Patrick Reynolds — Tue, 02 Nov 2021 21:18:02 +0000

This single Mom cried in her driveway when volunteers’ gifts arrived unexpectedly on Christmas eve from volunteers. She said she had no money to buy her children gifts for Christmas.

Be An Elf recommends that friends team up to adopt one or more letters to Santa, and share the work, the fun, and the cost!

Patrick Reynolds, Chief Elf at BeAnElf.org, holds letters to Santa adopted by the charity.

Be An Elf offers support for families in real need, and to volunteers who wish to adopt their sad letters to Santa.

Tips

BeAnElf.org suggests smart gifts, like backpacks, school supplies, new (not used) clothes, books, and a small gift for the mothers, whom the site says are sometimes feeling sad over the holidays.

Pay special attention to the letters from parents, whose children may be too little to write their own letters. Letters listing their children’s names, clothing and shoe sizes, or mentioning employment and health challenges, are signs their family truly needs help for the holidays.

Need Help with Christmas? A guide to USPS Operation Santa ®

— BeAnElf.org offers support for families in real need, and to volunteers who wish to adopt their sad letters to Santa. —

SOURCE: Be An Elf

Los Angeles – November 2, 2021 – The USPS® has just begun reading letters to Santa, looking for letters from families who need assistance with Christmas this year. Some ask Santa for “new shoes” or “a warm coat,” sending a signal that this is a family in need. Postal elves upload those letters to USPSoperationsanta.com and anyone wishing to volunteer at Christmas may adopt the sad letters from home, starting November 29^th. Later volunteer elves can mail their gifts directly to the child or family who wrote to Santa.

Be An Elf’s page BeAnElf.org/seeking-gifts/ gives parents seeking help with Christmas an excellent guide for writing to Santa, providing useful do’s and don’ts, and using language that even children may read: “Santa has volunteers across the US who want to send extra gifts to families having a hard time with money this year. Volunteers are permitted to read those children’s letters to Santa at a special USPS® website, and adopt the letter that touches their hearts the most.

“No worries! Postal staff who select children’s letters for posting at the website always put every letter right back in the mail to Santa. The USPS® promptly delivers every letter to the jolly man in red at the North Pole, and he’ll bring his gifts on Christmas Eve to every child, as always.”

BeAnElf.org also provides an excellent guide for volunteers wishing to adopt letters and send gifts to children in struggling families.

Some people feel alone and sad over the holidays, and find comfort and inspiration volunteering for this program. They catch the true spirit of the holidays knowing they will put smiles on kids’ faces on Christmas.

Be An Elf is a tax-exempt 501c3 charity, not affiliated with the USPS Operation Santa ®, but since 2004, the org has recruited thousands of volunteers for the Postal Service’s® program. This year for the first time, the group also supports Operation Santa by offering a guide to needy families seeking help with Christmas, in addition to its tips for effective volunteering.

To protect the privacy of children, the USPS® redacts children’s family names and home addresses from all letters posted. When a volunteer adopts a letter from home, they print it out, together with a barcoded address label. They must then mail their gifts at any of 13,000 postal branches in the US that offer label scanning.

Letters to Santa must be postmarked by December 10 to be considered for the Operation Santa program. The US Postal Service® has not missed a year since first offering the children’s letters in 1912. To learn more, visit www.BeAnElf.org.

CONTACT:

Patrick Reynolds

Be An Elf

Email

(310)880-1111

Source: Be An Elf

Website BeAnElf.org

Visit BeAnElf.org

Volunteer at Christmas – Adopt USPS Operation Santa® Letters

beanelf — Fri, 04 Dec 2020 22:14:28 +0000

This little girl received gifts from USPS Operation Santa ® volunteers one Christmas Eve, with her sisters looking on. Smiles all around!

USPS Operation Santa ® sad letters to Santa now up for adoption online – Volunteer for Christmas!

Be An Elf is a tax-exempt charity that supports the USPS Operation Santa ® program by providing an excellent guide for volunteers sending gifts and for needy families who are seeking them.

SOURCE: Be An Elf

Los Angeles – December 4, 2020 – Starting today, USPS Operation Santa ® has again put letters to Santa from underprivileged children up for adoption. They’re all online this year, so Christmas volunteers may now adopt the saddest letters right from home and mail their gifts directly to the child. Many of the letters ask Santa only for “a warm coat”, “new shoes,” and a favorite toy. Some are written by struggling moms whose kids are still too young to write.

Some people feel alone and sad over Christmas, and find comfort and inspiration volunteering for this program. They catch the true spirit of the holidays knowing they will put smiles on little faces on Christmas. Kids should know that the same day the elves at the USPS® review their letters, they always send every letter on to Santa — so they’ll get his gifts, too.

www.BeAnElf.org provides an excellent guide to USPS Operation Santa ® for volunteers who want to send gifts. The site also offers tips to struggling families to write a letter to Santa that will be seen online by Christmas volunteers. The USPS® website where letters may now be adopted is www.USPSoperationSanta.com.

This single Mom cried in her driveway when gifts arrived unexpectedly on Christmas eve from volunteers. She said she had no money to buy her children gifts for Christmas.

Those who don’t have time to shop and mail gifts may make a tax-deductible donation to Be An Elf online, stay home and they will adopt letters from needy kids and mail the gift. The all-volunteer charity uses contributions to select letters from the USPS ® website, and as donations come in, the group answers more letters.

They select those asking for basic needs, with a goal of sending each family a Target gift card for $100. Be An Elf encloses a note saying simply, “This is for your kids. Love, Santa”. They trust that the moms know best what their children want and need most.

While not affiliated with the USPS ®, Be An Elf is a tax-exempt 501c3 charity that has recruited thousands of volunteers for the Postal Service’s® program since 2004. Founder Patrick Reynolds received the Lifetime Achievement award in 2015 from President Obama for his work fighting tobacco.

The US Postal Service® has not missed a year since first offering the children’s letters in 1912.

Sample tips from Be An Elf

BeAnElf.org suggests smart gifts, like backpacks, school supplies, new (not used) clothes, books, and a small gift for the mothers, whom the site says are sometimes feeling sad over the holidays.

Pay attention to the letters from parents, whose children may be too little to write. They often list their children’s clothing and shoe sizes, and that’s a sign they truly need help for the holidays.

These volunteers were smiling and moved as they read letters to Santa.

Donations make it possible for BeAnElf to adopt more letters. Patrick Reynolds, Chief Elf at BeAnElf.org, holds letters to Santa adopted by the charity.

CONTACT:

Patrick Reynolds

Be An Elf

Contact Be An Elf

Source: Be An Elf

Website BeAnElf.org

“Some Operation Santa volunteers feel alone and sad over the holidays, and find comfort and inspiration volunteering for this program. It’s micro-philanthropy, direct from a volunteer to a child. People catch the true spirit of the holidays knowing they’ll put smiles on the faces of needy kids on Christmas,” says BeAnElf.org’s Patrick Reynolds.

Visit BeAnElf.org

Be An Elf supports Postal Service’s® program offering public needy kids’ letters to Santa online

beanelf — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 14:54:25 +0000

Christmas Charity For Needy Kids Supports USPS® Letters to Santa

This little girl received gifts from USPS Operation Santa® volunteers one Christmas Eve, with her sisters looking on. Smiles all around!

Letters to Santa from low-income kids are available for adoption online

Be An Elf is a charity which supports the USPS® program by providing an excellent guide for volunteers, and sending gifts

SOURCE: Be An Elf

Los Angeles – December 17, 2019 – The USPS® is posting needy kids’ letters to Santa online or adoption by the public. Many of their letters ask Santa only for “a warm coat”, “new shoes,” and a favorite toy.

Letters may be adopted from a new USPS® website, and volunteers will find it along with an excellent guide to the program at BeAnElf.org, a charity that supports the program every year by recruiting new volunteers and providing them a detailed guide to volunteering.

This single Mom cried in her driveway when gifts arrived unexpectedly on Christmas eve from volunteers. She said she had no money to buy her children gifts for Christmas.

“Some people feel alone and sad over the holidays, and find comfort and inspiration volunteering for this program. They catch the true spirit of the holidays and put smiles on the faces of needy kids on Christmas morning.

“There is still time to answer a child’s letter and send them gifts, even a gift card. Mail your gift by December 20, and in time for Christmas, if mailed by December 20,” says Be An Elf’s Patrick Reynolds.

Reynolds received the Lifetime Achievement award in 2015 from President Obama; his bio is at Tobaccofree.org/bio/

To protect children’s privacy, USPS ® staff redact last names and addresses from every letter. After scanning the letters and posting them at the Postal Service® site, postal elves send every letter on to Santa.

The US Postal Service® has not missed a year since first offering the children’s letters in 1912.

Sample tips from Be An Elf:

BeAnElf.org suggests smart gifts, like backpacks, school supplies, new (not used) clothes, books, and a small gift for the mothers, whom the site says are sometimes feeling sad over the holidays.

Pay attention to the letters from parents, whose children may be too little to write. They often list their children’s clothing and shoe sizes, and that’s a sign they truly need help for the holidays.

These volunteers were smiling and moved as they read letters to Santa.

Patrick Reynolds, Chief Elf, BeAnElf.org, holds letters to Santa adopted by BeAnElf.org.

CONTACT:

Patrick Reynolds

Be An Elf

Contact Be An Elf

Source: Be An Elf

Website BeAnElf.org

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“Some Operation Santa volunteers feel alone and sad over the holidays, and find comfort and inspiration volunteering for this program. It’s micro-philanthropy, direct from a volunteer to a child. People catch the true spirit of the holidays and put smiles on the faces of needy kids on Christmas,” says Patrick Reynolds.

Visit BeAnElf.org

USPS OPERATION SANTA® MAKING NEEDY KIDS’ SAD LETTERS TO SANTA AVAILABLE ONLINE TO PUBLIC FOR FIRST TIME

beanelf — Wed, 20 Nov 2019 14:45:36 +0000

Letters to Santa from low-income kids are now available for adoption online at a new USPS® website, launched this week

Los Angeles — November 20, 2019 – Los Angeles – This week the US Postal Service® launched a new website making needy kids’ letters to Santa available for adoption online by the public. Many of their letters ask Santa only for “a warm coat”, “new shoes,” and a favorite toy.

In recent years the program has been available in less than two dozen cities, but this year the letters may be adopted online from anywhere, and gifts mailed from 19,000 postal branches, thanks to a new USPS® website, USPSoperationsanta.com.

To protect children’s privacy, USPS ® staff redact last names and addresses from their letters. A coded address label is printed out with each letter. Gifts must be mailed by December 20th, in time for delivery by Christmas.

After scanning children’s letters and posting them at the site, naturally, USPS® elves send every letter on to Santa at the North Pole.

Be An Elf is a tax-exempt charity founded by a volunteer, Elf Patrick. The site supports USPS Operation Santa ® by recruiting hundreds of new volunteers every year, encouraging media to cover the story, and by providing those seeking assistance with tips for more effective letter writing. Be An Elf is not affiliated with the USPS® but supports the program by offering an excellent guide to it — both to new volunteers and to those seeking assistance. The group gets a major in-kind grant from Google in the form of free advertising.

Parents who are worried there won’t be enough gifts for their children this year will find great tips at BeAnElf.org/writing-to-Santa.

New volunteers who want to learn how to send gifts to kids should visit the home page of BeAnElf.org and just click on How to volunteer.

“Some Operation Santa volunteers feel alone and sad over the holidays, and find comfort and inspiration volunteering for this program. They catch the true spirit of the holidays and put smiles on the faces of needy kids on Christmas morning,” says Be An Elf’s Patrick Reynolds.

Reynolds appears in CNBC interview on Be An Elf home page. He’s a grandson of tobacco company founder RJ Reynolds, but became a smoke-free advocate after his father, RJ Reynolds, Jr., died from smoking. Patrick received the Lifetime Achievement award in 2015 from President Obama for his work against Big Tobacco; his bio is at Tobaccofree.org/bio/.

Journalists can support those interested in volunteering and help parents and kids write more effective letters by briefly mentioning BeAnElf.org at the end of coverage of the wonderful USPS® program. The site is an invaluable resource for first-time volunteers and helps parents and kids write more effective letters to Santa.

Be An Elf is a tax-exempt 501c3 charity founded by volunteer Patrick Reynolds in 2004 to create public awareness of the USPS Operation Santa ® program. While not affiliated with the USPS ® program, Be An Elf supports Operation Santa ® by recruiting and preparing hundreds of new volunteers for it every year.

Sample tips:

BeAnElf.org suggests smart gifts, like backpacks, school supplies, new (not used) clothes, books, and a small gift for the mothers, whom the site says are sometimes feeling sad over the holidays.
Pay attention to the letters from parents, whose children may be too little to write. They often list their children’s clothing and shoe sizes, and that’s a sign they truly need help for the holidays.
Give a holiday party at which friends and neighbors are invited to bring gifts for kids, and share the gift wrapping, the cost and the fun.
It’s possible to adopt multiple letters and simply mail gift cards from Target or Costco, and let the Moms do the shopping for their families.
Companies may typically adopt up to 100 letters to Santa, and Be An Elf has just published a new Plan for Companies for employees who are interested in volunteering.

The US Postal Service® has not missed a year since first offering the children’s letters in 1912. Learn more at BeAnElf.org.

Be An Elf CONTACT:

[wpforms id=”4458″ title=”false” description=”false”]

Patrick Reynolds
Be An Elf

Some 2019 news coverage:

ABC World News / Good Morning America
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/living/story/usps-operation-santa-launches-online-make-holidays-happy-67172771

Los Angeles KNBC TV 4, November 18, 2019:
https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/USPS-Dear-Santa-Childrens-Letters-565097362.html

Yahoo Finance, November 27, 2019
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/usps-operation-santa-making-needy-141500675.html

KNX1070 NewsRadio, November 18, 2019
https://knx1070.radio.com/articles/cns-news/us-postal-service-launches-new-site-letters-santa

Source: Be An Elf

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