WASHINGTON — The United States Postal Service will once again be delivering letters to Santa this year, with "Operation Santa" kicking off Monday.

The program accepts and organizes letters every year addressed to Santa Claus. To make sure each one gets a response in time, the USPS invites individuals, corporations and nonprofits to send back a gift the child requested in the letter.

The festive program, which started in 1912 when Postmaster General Frank Hitchcock allowed local post offices to respond to letters written to Santa, has evolved through the years into a nationwide initiative that connects generous gift-givers with children hoping for holiday magic.

How to participate in Operation Santa

Anyone in the U.S. can be part of the program, either by writing a letter to Santa or by

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