PORTLAND, Maine — With only seven days left until Christmas, Santa Claus, as you can imagine, is very busy checking his list and getting everything ready for the big day.
Thankfully, workers at the post office in Portland are pitching in and doing what they can to help.
The Portland Post Office has received more than 1400 letters to Santa, this year alone.
Workers are volunteering their time to help Santa write the children back.
The workers get all kinds of letters. One little girl wrote--“I really, really, really love your joyful beard. Ho Ho Ho. I've been a really good girl. I will leave you some really good cookies with milk and maybe candy. Thank you. I love you Santa.”
Denise Gonneville has worked at the Portland Post Office for 32 years. She says "it's very enjoyable. You never know what you're going to read."
Some letters are funny and sweet.
One child wrote, "I put columns dividing expensive gifts and inexpensive gifts."
Another said, "I want for Christmas a year supply of wet cat food and catnip."
One boy told Santa…"I would like a real live Night Fury Dragon and maybe a couple hundred dollars to take care of it."
Other letters the postal workers receive are more heartfelt and poignant.
One girl wrote to Santa…"the gift I want the most this year you can't buy, the elves can't even make it. I want my mom cancer free. It’s her 2nd year with it please help us make it her best Christmas yet."
Postal workers take this job to heart and take great pride in helping Santa write the children back.
Nick Russo has worked at the Portland Post Office for 36 years. And he’s volunteered as a Santa’s Helper for the past 15 years." Responding to the letters brings us joy because you can just imagine what kids feel like when they get a letter back from Santa."
Emily Welch is the Postal Services District Coordinator.
"I think it keeps the magic of Christmas alive. It’s been a tradition at the post office since 1912 and so it's been going on for over a 100 years and it’s a tradition we don’t want to go away.”
Children are writing to Santa to tell him how good they've been.
One boy wrote "Dear Santa this year I’ve been good. I've also shared with my cousins and helped my teacher clean up after school."
Other children were more focused on avoiding the naughty list.
One girl wrote…"Dear Santa this year I think I’ve been good. Well every now and then I fight with my sister but that's expected right?"
The postal workers will answer every letter that comes into the office with a return address…helping to make sure children in Maine believe in the magic of Christmas and of simply being a kid.
Welch says "throughout the year we get letters for the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy and we work for them too."