If you celebrate Christmas, chances are good that you have written at least one letter to Santa in your life. And if you have a child, chances are good that you sat down with your child to write at least one letter to Santa. The only difference is that as an adult, you know full well that the letter is not going to be answered by anyone.

But what if it was? For 100 years, the United States Postal Service has been making children’s holiday wishes come true through the Letters to Santa Program.

Starting in 1912, local postmasters and postal employees started responding to some of the letters to Santa sent by children each year. In the last 60 years, however, the program has taken that good deed one step further as postal workers, working with charitable organizations, businesses and individual citizens have tried to make a difference in the lives of thousands of children each holiday season.

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