skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Friday, March 29, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Operation Santa to Help Thousands of Chicago-Area Kids

play audio
Play

Wednesday, December 23, 2015   

CHICAGO - Thousands of Chicago-area kids are getting some holiday help from the Chicago Post Office. Every year, a team of "postal elves" help out with Operation Santa by collecting children's letters and email messages to Santa.

Mark Reynolds, Chicago district spokesman for the U.S. Postal Service, says then they make the letters publicly available so others can help fulfill those holiday wishes.

"We've got many customers, many families, many businesses and organizations who've made it part of their holiday tradition to come look through the letters and find those that touch their hearts and try to fulfill them," says Reynolds.

Last year, the Chicago Post Office received more than 10,000 letters to Santa. Reynolds expects the same this year, although only a little more than half of those letters are typically answered.

Still, Reynolds says this can be a great way to help get holiday gifts to children who might not otherwise receive them.

"We see everything from, 'Santa, send me an iPhone,' to the really heartfelt letters," says Reynolds. "'I'm writing on behalf of my grandma, she's working hard, I need clothes, I need shoes, we need just the basics to have a nice Christmas.'"

While the official deadline was Monday to help with Operation Santa donations, Reynolds says there's still a chance to sneak in some last-minute gifts.

"We'll be here for the rest of the week to accept the packages," says Reynolds. "So if anybody out there has a letter and hasn't finished shopping, we really need them to hurry up and finish and bring the package back so we can get it on its way."


get more stories like this via email

more stories
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments this week about the popular abortion pill Mifepristone and will weigh in on whether the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was correct in how it can be dosed and prescribed. (Ascannio/Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

Missouri residents are worried about future access to birth control. The latest survey from The Right Time, an initiative based in Missouri…


Social Issues

play sound

Wisconsin children from low-income families are now on track to get nutritious foods over the summer. Federal officials have approved the Badger …

Social Issues

play sound

Almost 2,900 people are unsheltered on any given night in the Beehive State. Gov. Spencer Cox is celebrating signing nine bills he says are geared …


The U.S. teaching workforce remains primarily white while the percentage of Black teachers has declined. However, the percentage of Asian and Latinx teachers is rising.(WavebreakMediaMicro/Adobestock)

Social Issues

play sound

Education advocates are calling on lawmakers to increase funding for programs to combat the teacher shortage. Around 37% of schools nationwide …

Environment

play sound

New York's Legislature is considering a bill to get clean-energy projects connected to the grid faster. It's called the RAPID Act, for "Renewable …

Social Issues

play sound

Earlier this month, a new Arizona Public Service rate hike went into effect and one senior advocacy group said those on a fixed income may struggle …

Social Issues

play sound

Michigan recently implemented a significant juvenile justice reform package following recommendations from a task force made up of prosecutors…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021