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Santa For A Day (You Can Do It, Too)
Posted on December 20, 2005 by Sarah Eaton.
When BeTuitive’s president, Todd Smart, told us we were going on a field trip before our holiday party and wouldn’t tell us what it was, I was a little nervous about it. I’m not very fond of surprises.
My discomfort wasn’t much alleviated when he directed us to the Harrison Street post office. What could be there?
“It can’t be the actual post office we’re going to," Kevin said. “It’s something around the post office. He just said the post office to throw us off.”
Not so. As it turns out, the Harrison Street post office in Chicago is home to thousands upon thousands of letters that people send to Santa. Some are from kids, asking for toys. But, most are from parents, asking for help.
The surprise field trip was a chance for each of us to act as Santa, to select a letter, buy the requested items and make someone’s holiday a little happier.
It all started in the 1920s when postal workers in New York City reached into their own pockets to buy gifts for poor children who had written to Santa. Their actions rescued the letters from an end in the dead-letter box. (For more information, go to Operation Letters to Santa.)
Each of us spent close to an hour reading. I found a letter from a woman whose house had burned down, who needed some basic supplies for her daughters. Kat chose a request from a child who wanted her mom to have something nice. Dave selected a letter from someone requesting educational toys for a learning academy.
We bought the presents, packaged the items and sent them off. Afterwards, we did the usual company holiday party of dinner and drinks. It was nice; we all had fun, but I think the part that all of us will remember most fondly is the field trip. I hope we make a tradition of it.
You still have a few days if you’re interested in making a child’s holiday brighter. Contact the post office in New York City by dialing 877.840.0459, or in Chicago at 312.983.8293 for more information.
tags: Operation Letters to Santa | company holiday party
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December 20, 2005 in award winning design, award winning magazine, Award winning publications, Blog Outsourcing, company blog, company magazine, company newsletter, company newsletter sample, corporate magazine, create a newsletter | Permalink
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