For 111 years, Operation Santa has enabled postal employees and volunteers to respond to heartfelt letters from children addressed to Santa. Volunteers are invited to make a difference by virtually “adopting” deserving children and families across the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

“Letter volume and the number of adopters increase every year, and this year is no exception,” said Sue Brennan, senior public relations specialist for the Postal Service.

The Operation Santa website highlights that Dec. 18 is the final day for Secret Santas to select letters from individuals and families; this is also the last day they recommend sending out packages to guarantee a pre-Christmas Day arrival.

The website also assures that new letters to Santa will continually be uploaded, keeping the spirit of giving alive throughout the letter-writing season. In 2022, Secret Santas received over 18,000 letters.

Among the touching letters featured on the site this year is one from a family, including Liviey, an 18-month-old baby who likes the color yellow. Liviey’s wishlist includes diapers (size 4), wipes, 2T clothing, pajamas, and a toddler bed with bedding.

Oliviana is in need of a front-facing car seat and a pack-and-play, while Larry, a 12-year-old aspiring Harry Potter fan, has bedding, size 13 men’s shoes, and a cozy blanket on his list. Payton, a 10-year-old with a love for the color red, dreams of a drum set, a weighted blanket, and a pair of stylish Nike tennis shoes (size 10). Lastly, Pewee, an 8-year-old, expresses a wish for a new bed set and a captivating lava lamp for Christmas.

The Postal Service also extends an invitation to companies to join in the spirit of giving by adopting a child or a family.

In heartfelt letters, children like Nathan, 12, share personal stories of resilience and growth, acknowledging the challenges faced by their families. Nathan, who boosts better grades this year and the assurance that he and his brothers are good “60% of the time, wishes for a “Fast and Furious” 1970 Dodge Charger Lego set and a light-up football. Cameron, 14, dreams of Bluetooth portable speakers and black earbuds, while Charles, 9, wants an inflatable snow tube and a double-sided remote control stunt car.

Operation Santa stands as a powerful reminder that, especially during the holiday season, collective acts of kindness can brighten the lives of those facing challenges, fostering a sense of hope, joy, and community.

“I hope you feel merry and bright,” Nathan wrote in his letter to Santa. “Have a good Christmas.”

Source: Freightwaves

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Currently, over 95% of first-class mail and packages are being transported through the service’s ground transportation system, highlighting the success of this strategy. In addition to cost savings, DeJoy’s broader efforts aim to increase revenue from packages, ensure prompt deliveries, and counter inflation through price adjustments. These initiatives will be implemented over the next 17 months and include expanding delivery points to better serve customers.

There are challenges ahead, though, as the Postal Service recently reported projected unforeseen costs totaling $6 billion this year. These costs are attributed to factors such as inflation and unexpected retirement expenses. Despite this setback, DeJoy remains committed to pursuing cost reduction and revenue enhancement strategies to create a more efficient Postal Service.

“We continue to manage the costs within our control, such as by reducing work hours by 6 million hours compared to the same quarter last year and by focusing on transportation and other operating costs,” Chief Financial Officer Joseph Corbett said.

The Postal Service is making significant changes to improve its operations. It has just opened its first regional distribution center in Richmond, Va., and has plans to open nine more regional centers. Additionally, they will be renovating 27 local processing centers and 60 sorting and delivery centers.

These actions are part of a larger plan to eliminate over $20 billion of deferred maintenance and set the Postal Service up for success in the next three decades.

Source: The Trucker

Photo: USPS

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