Santa's Mail Canceled

Posted: Nov 20, 2009 8:09 AM by Associated Press
Updated: Nov 20, 2009 8:09 AM

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - A group of volunteer "elves" in Alaska's frigid interior has set out to save a popular holiday letter service featuring the North Pole's most beloved icon.
The group is looking to counter a decision by the U.S. Postal Service to end a program begun in 1954 in the small town of North Pole, where volunteers respond to thousands of letters addressed to
"Santa Claus, North Pole" each year.
Chief elf Gabby Gaborik says he met with Postal Service officials this week to come up with an alternative.
He's now working with local government officials to gain possession of 101 Santa Claus Lane as an address for his group.
That way children will have a specific destination for their letters, allowing volunteers to run their own program and bypass strict rules implemented by the Postal Service after security
issues arose in a similar program in Maryland.

Topics: santa, mail, christmas, alaska, letters, elves, post, office, postal, service, volunteers, clause, north, pole, holiday