"Dear Santa."
Since time almost immemorial, little ones around the world have written those two dream-filled words before listing various holiday favors the jolly old elf might bring them on Christmas Eve.
Some children wish for bicycles or drawing pencils. Some wish for video game systems or the newest, coolest smart phone. Some wish for a miracle.
As different as each letter may be, Bentonville postmaster Jeremy Coffey says they are all about one thing: hope.
"The children are doing it for a reason," he said. "They still believe in Santa, and they believe in the hope that he brings."
Coffey, a 20-year veteran of the United States Postal Service, says that by the end of November, letters to Santa begin arriving at local post offices and distribution centers. The stream of letters can vary depending on the location, he said, but each is handled with care.
But the letters don't exactly make it to the North Pole.
"Locally we have enough employees to answer the letters to Santa that come into the offices," he said. "We have letters prepared, like templates, so if there is an address on the envelope, we can usually send a reply."
The Postal Service tries to answer every letter to Santa, Coffey said, although whether the time is available is determined by each individual office. In Northwest Arkansas, postal workers are on the lookout for these letters early, he said. "Our offices locally are really good at getting replies out," he said.
The responses are very carefully crafted, he said. Christian children are not the only writers of these letters, so writing a faith-based response wouldn't work for each child, he said. And although they may deliver the gifts, postal workers aren't responsible for fulfilling wish lists. That's Santa's job.
"We have to be very cautious how we answer these letters," Coffey said. "We do our best to keep that hope alive by responding, and we try to catch every one. But we can't guarantee that they will get what they ask for."
Even if they want to make that promise.
"Some of the letters are truly heartbreaking," he said. "A lot have high dollar items, some have lists that are 50 or 60 items long. Then others just wish for a family member with a health issue to get better. Or dad, who's in the service, to come home."
Regardless of their content, letters to Santa always tug on the heartstrings. Below are a selection of unedited letters submitted to Northwest Arkansas Newspapers this year.
Each letter was forwarded to Santa after they were prepared for publishing.
Weekly Vista
Dear Santa,
It's Madilynn Neumann. This year I want to get stuff for my family. I am going to be more considerate to my family so I was wondering if you could get my mom a laptop for when she works at home. Some chapstick for my mom (she is alergick to something on her lips thats why she needs capstick), A female dog so my dog can have a sister, A Rockies hat for my sister and/or Rockies jerssy and some new books for my classroom.
thanks
Love,
Madie
Dear Santa,
I wish you have a merey Crismis. I wasnt that good. Itry so hard.
I don,t know it I was good.
Help me be good.
Your driend
Briley Powell
Dear Santa
I would like to know if I could have a full coppy of the naghty and nice list. And I wan to know if I could have a I phone because I got a coppy of my cousin's of the naghty and nice list and I was on the nice list. And that is at the top of my Christmas list and I want on so bad.
P.S. you're the BEST.
From Sophia Pierce
Dear Santa,
I do not need a present, this time I have family comeing and that is good enough. I love Christmas I am not saying I do not like Christmas...I Love it! I do not want you to go from the north pole to give me stuff. If you do I will give it to the orfange. So do not give me a toy. The kids that don't have eneathing should have it. How d you get all the way a rownd the world. The world is realy big. Do you get to meat the easter bunie. I wish I cluld meat you. But you would loose your Christmas magic...is that true? I love your work.
Olivia Wilson
Dear Santa,
You are the best Santa in the world. I have been a good girl. I help my mamma with house cleaning and always do my homework. I love to read and play with my babies. I want crafts and clothes for my babies.
Thank you for all you and the elves for the children all over the world.
Mylee Ann Woolafd
Dear Santa,
I hope you are not sick all Christmas. Can I have a phone please and toys.
Be careful.
Love Zane Michael Banks
Dear Santa,
How are you? Are the elfs fine Did you have a good sumer? Are you ok to day? can I plese have a 3 Des and sum legos Plese I want a nerf gun Plese.
I hope you have a good trip.
Love,
Rhett
Dear Santa,
How are your elfs? I hope I am on the good list. I would relley like a robot mip dog. Tell Mrs. cluas I sad hi Tell me all of the randeer name's hi Santa
Love,
Challee Jean Hewlett
Dear Santa,
How many elfes do you have? How did you become Santa? How do elfes get their magic? How many reindeer are at the north pole? Why do you only go through the chimney?
Why is Christmas always on December 24th and 25th?
From Jackson
Dear Santa,
I hope you & Mrs. Clause are ready for the coming trip! And I hope the Reindeer are ready too! I got a quishtin do the elf's get Christmas presents to cause the work very hard making the presents? Well, sometimes I'm naughty but most of the time I'm nice.
So what I want for Christmas is the new Barbie dreamhouse, lala loopsy baking oven, little live pets bird & the snow glow Elsa. Have a Safe Flight! XOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Love Kyler Baker
Dear Santa,
I do not need a present, this time I have family comeing and that is good enough. I love Christmas I am not saying I do not like Christmas...I Love it! I do not want you to go from the north pole to give me stuff. If you do I will give it to the orfange. So do not give me a toy. The kids that don't have eneathing should have it. How d you get all the way a rownd the world. The world is realy big. Do you get to meat the easter bunie. I wish I cluld meat you. But you would loose your Christmas magic...is that true? I love your work.
Olivia Wilson
Dear Santa,
How are you and your reindeer doing? At drama we read a book and pretended to be the cericters, I was Blitzen. I hope I get most of the things on my Christmas lit. I hope you give us snow for most of the yearAnd I hope you are real.
If you warnt real it would crush my hart! You are the best person ever!
Mery Christmas!
Phoebe
Dear Santa,
I am Claire and I have been very nice this year. For Christmas I would like the new Rio 2 and a pogo stick candy, a snowglobe and a password jurnal. I will leave you warm gingerbread man and cold choclate milk near the fireplace. P.S. I am staying up to catch you and I have a camera and I know your magic do if so if you are real and I get a picture of you I have a picture of a fake Santa and I can transfer it to that picture so be afraid.
By not real Santa caugh from Claire
Dear Santa,
How many cookies and milk do you eat ni one night? How long is your naughty list? How many elves do you have? Can you please watch out for my dog when you come down the chimney. I have been a good boy. Can you please bring me a pedal car. Mario kart wit, a metal detector and wild kratt stuff.
Love, Kyle
Dear Santa,
I know you work so hard but what do you do in the summer.
Do you watch TV or do you still work. Please give me and my brothers what they won't. You are doing good ceep the good work.
Sincerely Samuel Griffis
Dear Santa.
My name is Brayton Johnson and I am 3. Been kinda good boy this year. But I'm working on getting lots better. I would like some power rangers stuff. Some new clothes and a power wheel car. Cookies and milk will be waiting on you. Merry Christmas.
Brayton Johnson.
Dear Santa,
I would like you to bring a van, a new van for my mamaw. I want a babby pig zhuis and you sant please bring these things. P.S. fat guys get fat cookies.
Please bring those thing or you will get no cookies. hahahah.
Bye-bye-bye.
P.S.S. bring Bradley a baby doll
from Bryanne Shaver
Westside Eagle Observer
Dear Sanat Claws,
Can I have one of your rain deers, can I have a real monkey, can I have a boxing bag, and some stuffed animals, some funny books, some boxing gloves, some paper, some stikynotes, pencils, pens, a book that says how things are named, and a x box.
Love, Dylan Dunn
Dear Santa Claus,
I would realy like a Chapsters doll. I would also like a new diary that opens to my vois only. By the way, What is your favorite cookie and do you want chocolate milk with it? Oh if the raindeers are hungry bring the cookies outside. Last year Rudolph got all kinds of stuff in the house. Geuss what when I came and saw you I also saw your raindeer. I wonder which one it was?
Love, MaKenzie Riley
Dear santa claus.
I wdd wunt a bowandarrow for christmas please and thankyou.
Love, Trinity Barrows
Dear Santa,
For Christmas, I want real make-up, a computer, and a phone. How are the reindeer doing and rudolfe? Has a polor bear attacked you? How are you doing? What is the weather like? How is the North Pole? I wish I could go to the North pole with, but I can't.
Sincerely, Abby Miner
Washington County Herald Leader
Dear Santa:
I hope you think I have been good this year. I'm so ready for you to come and bring me presents. Please visit my two best friends, Drake and Devin.
I think Drake needs a lump of coal. I live in a new house at the same place (just in case you need to know). The one thing that I want is an IPod.
But, I'll be happy with anything else that the elves have made.
Merry Christmas from Your Friend,
Rhett Robert Johnston
Pea Ridge Times
Dear Santa,
This is what I want for CRAMAS. I need New shousi sice 2-1/2 I need a new wlove called Smoky and the to. I need an Arkinsaw hat I whant an X-box game called Well of tochin. I whant a 3DS game called the LEOG move. I whant a game called Sonic lost world. And that is what I whant for CRASMAS.
Love, Weston
Dear Sants,
ScyLanders! minecraft! A cat! A pool trucks! Phon! an eFi on the shef! The Game SkyLaders! Pokmon Game for mhy DS! A New swod. A New Game for my DS! A cage for Saggy! I ples just one more DS!
Love, Brody
Dear Santa,
I love you Santa wut I wunt for Christmas beados and the barbie glamer camper and the barbie hose that I saw in the mggzien.
Love, Ava Biffany
Dear Santa,
I wont a specet with a Micker fone. can yo0u get my brother a play helacpter Pleas. I love you. The End.
Love, Hannah
Dear Santa,
For Christmas this year
I want a puppy.
I need a new coat.
I'll wear a shirt with my family on it.
I'll read all the Junie B. Jones books.
And I'd really love you to bring me a computer
Love, Kyler
Dear Santa, This year, I have been nice. For Christmas, I would really like: 1 -- a puppy, 2 -- worm cloths, 3 -- board game.
My Favorite reindeer is: Blitzer If I could ask you one question, it would be: Can I see you raindeer on Christmas?
On Christmas Eve I will leave some cookie's and milk for you to eat!
Thank you, Santa! Your Friend, Hailey
Merry Christmas to all of you from all of us!
NAN Our Town on 12/25/2014