The US Postal Service ® has made the children’s letters available every December since 1912. Be An Elf is a tax-exempt charity founded by volunteer Patrick Reynolds, and supports USPS Operation Santa ® by creating public awareness of the program, recruiting hundreds of new volunteers, and helping those seeking assistance write their letters to Santa. Be An Elf is not affiliated with the USPS®, but the site is an excellent guide both to volunteering for the program and to those seeking assistance.

“Some Operation Santa volunteers feel alone and sad over the holidays, and find comfort and inspiration volunteering for this program. People catch the true spirit of the holidays, and put smiles on the faces of needy kids on Christmas morning. It’s micro-philanthropy, direct from a volunteer to a child,” says Be A Elf’s Chief Elf, Patrick Reynolds.

Mr. Reynolds received the Lifetime Achievement award in 2015 from President Obama for his work against Big Tobacco. He’s a grandson of tobacco company founder RJ Reynolds, makers of Camel, but became a smoke-free advocate after his father, RJ Reynolds, Jr., died from smoking.

One tip Be An Elf offers is to give a holiday party at which friends and neighbors are invited to bring gifts for kids, and share the gift wrapping, the cost and the fun. Another tip suggests it’s possible to adopt multiple letters and simply mail gift cards from Target or Costco, and let the Moms do the shopping for their families. Companies may typically adopt up to 100 letters to Santa, and distribute them to committees of interested employees.

Mr. Reynolds’ bio is at Anti-smoking.org/bio/ Links to two cable network news interviews about Be An Elf from 2011 are below.

Please tag your story about the USPS program with a mention of BeAnElf.org as a guide to volunteering for the program.