WASHINGTON — Operation Santa is in full swing, with the United States Postal Service officially opening up letter adoptions for the holiday season.

Every year, the program accepts and organizes letters addressed to Santa Claus, then publishes them online for anyone willing to play Santa's helper. Starting this week, families, community groups and individuals can adopt letters and send gifts to children and families across the country.

To ensure each one receives a response in time, the USPS invites individuals, corporations, and nonprofits to send back the gift the child requested in the letter.

The festive program, which began in 1912 when Postmaster General Frank Hitchcock allowed local post offices to respond to letters addressed to Santa, has evolved over the years into a nat

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