Another year has finished

Yesterday we did the final batch of Santa letters.  They were all local and probably mailed past the deadline.  We answered every one of them!   I am not sure if we will get any very late letters, but we have the supplies and will answer them if needed.  They get a post card saying their letter arrived too late etc.  It appears we kept very much up to date.  With fewer volunteers because of COVID and fewer International letters, it worked out!

During the last few weeks, we've see the following:

• Lots of wonderful pictures.  One so good by a 10 year old the volunteer will frame it!
• One child sent in her tooth fairy money.  We forwarded it to the coordinator.
• I had a nice letter from the parent of a downs syndrome child.  That required a special message.
• We received many gifts, masks for Santa to wear, jewelery (the plastic kind), and many stickers. 
• Some letters are very hard to open as the parents give the children tape to seal them.  One parent gave her child duct tape!  Good thing we have sharp scissors.
• Another child asked for Santa to find her birth mother!
• The funniest one was a child that said "ask my dumb ass social mother to get my social media back".  We've all had teenagers and find these funny.
• The names of the children get stranger every year.  Dick, Jane and Mary aren't popular names any more.  

The funniest letter came yesterday.  I believe this a template that you can download on the Canada Post site.  Carol and I had a belly laugh over this one:

Here are more samples of what we received. 

Just in case Santa doesn't know where to find them, this child sent links!

Here are some of the stickers.  These ones are puffy and were all over the envelope too!

This list didn't start with "I want".  Most do and I think this child is awesome!

A thank you in advance notice with lots of nice art work.  Thank you was a pop-up.

Danella sent us some jokes.

We get lots of pictures of what they ask for.  One wonders how the letters get through the scanners to us with the weird addresses and stickers all over the envelopes!  

I have no idea who Pete is but I'm happy he's doing well.

These are just a few letters we received.  There are so many really creative children.  Some just scribble all over the page so you know they are young.  Others print very neatly and you can tell the parents have taught them manners.

In the beginning we told all the children because of COVID not to leave cookies, milk or carrots.  However, Premier Horgan said it was okay, so we stopped that.  Hopefully they don't want the news.  We told the children the North Pole was COVID free.  That was before the vaccine was approved.  Then Dr. Bonnie said Santa got the COVID vaccine.

Lots of children said they wanted the virus to be gone.  Others said they hated online school.  Others missed seeing their grandparents.  Many said they can't wait until the virus is over and things return to normal.  We were given a guide to answer COVID questions.  My favorite one:  

I know that COVID-19 has made it a tough year for a lot of people.  Try not to get too discouraged.  Things will eventually return to normal.  Hopefully the Christmas spirit can bring you some joy and hope throughout the year.  Please stay safe.  

If we get any letters that are sensitive or a child needs help, we send them to the HR department and they look after them.  I only had two letters that needed help.  

I'm ready to do this again next November.