Answering letters to Santa pet project for postal staff

LEWISTON – Loretta Theriault certainly doesn’t look like Santa’s helper. But this time of year, the postal worker assumes the added duty of answering letters addressed to Santa Claus.

When children write letters to Santa Claus at the North Pole – sometimes spelled “Nourth Pole” – they are handed over to Lewiston Postmaster Ronald Landry. He then turns them over to Theriault, who reads the letters, writes responses and sometimes even arranges for gifts to be delivered to the letter writers.

“I love Christmas,” she said. “I’m probably the biggest kid in this building.”

This year, early letter writers seem to want video games and the movies “Godzilla” and “The Grinch.” They’ve also asked for Power Rangers and Pokemon toys.

Reading the letters warms the hearts and puts smiles on the faces of postal workers, Landry said. Another letter, written by a parent, asked for the movie “Shrek,” a tape recorder, a PlayStation game, a Scooby-Doo movie or maybe a CD rack.

At their house, the parent promised, there will be lots of cookies, an early breakfast for Santa and some carrots for the reindeer.

Over the years some letters have been especially touching.

“We had one from a child who lived downtown. All he asked for was a hat, mittens and a football,” Theriault said.

The boy got what he wanted.

On Christmas Eve, Lewiston carrier Richard Pepin made his last delivery of the day. Wearing a Santa hat, Pepin knocked on the door and gave the gifts to the child, explaining that they were from Santa and that Pepin was helping the big guy out with deliveries.

In Auburn, postmaster Bob Balko said postal workers there also respond to letters that are written to Santa.

“We probably get five letters to Santa a day,” he said.

The children usually assure Santa they’ve been good and present their wish lists.

Once in a while, though, the writers don’t ask for toys. Instead, they ask for heating oil or a new coat for their mom.

“They’re tear-jerkers,” Balko said.

In those cases references are made to a service agency that may be able to help.