Santa sits atop a large mailbox ‘throne’ inside the lobby of the Hellertown Post Office, where kids can mail letters to Kris Kringle this holiday season.
In the spirit of the classic yuletide editorial “Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus,” the Hellertown Post Office is offering children a chance to send letters to the North Pole this Christmas–and have them answered.
A custom-made “Letters to Santa” mailbox located in the post office’s lobby was the brainchild of newly-appointed Hellertown postmaster Joe DiRusso, who also received permission to host a special letter-writing event at the branch that 40 children attended.
Photos of the children writing letters to Santa Claus are displayed in the lobby.
In the vestibule, there is an artificial Christmas tree and other decorations to help brighten the building’s dated interior during the post office’s busiest time of year.
DiRusso said he plans to decorate the outside of the building with lights, with assistance from the volunteers at Dewey Fire Company.
In fact, all of the decorations and labor for the holiday displays has been donated, he said.
“People are more than happy to help (if you) just ask,” he said, adding that branch staff have been helpful in finding local businesses to contribute to the decoration drive.
DiRusso noted that the Hellertown post office is fully staffed for the holidays and will have two people working at the customer service window at all times, “just to keep the line moving.”
He stressed the importance of mailing cards and packages early, in order to avoid the annual last-minute mail crush that occurs just before the Christmas holiday.
DiRusso said he plans to put lights on a pine tree outside the building and hang a large wreath on the front of the building, which is located at Delaware Avenue and W. Water Street.
The “Hellertown Pennsylvania” sign on the front of the building was recently repaired, and DiRusso said he hopes to have the building’s trim repainted next year.
In the meantime, the holiday season will be a merrier, fun one at the Hellertown Post Office–especially for kids.
DiRusso said each child who mails a letter to Santa at the post office will receive a personal answer from him, thanks to a little help from some Hellertown “elves.”
There’s no mistaking the fact that the holiday season has arrived in Saucon Valley once you step inside the Hellertown Post Office, which has been festively decorated this year following an effort spearheaded by newly-appointed postmaster Joe DiRusso.