While the United States Post Office gets busy this time of year with Christmas cards and packages, another reason for the increased load is letters sent to the North Pole. The post office handles letters from children sending their requests and well-wishes to Santa Claus and his reindeer with care to help ensure they get to their destination.

Dave Manring, Ironton postmaster, said letters to Santa have been down this year.

“I’ve only seen a couple,” he said. He added that the letters are sometimes picked up by the carriers with other outgoing mail, but they all are headed to the same place, the USPS Columbus processing center. It’s here where letters from all or part of 48 counties go. The center received about 2,000 letters to Santa this year and helped ensure the children received their responses from Santa for the 600 letters with return addresses, said postal service spokesperson Victor Dubina.

“Any young child getting a letter from Santa, we hope it will brighten the holidays,” he said.

Here is a sample of some letters Santa has received this year.

Dear Santa,

For Christmas I want a long board or a new skateboard. A new phone or ipod touch, camera, and a spot light. A cappaceeno machine, $50. A laptop, fudge, and xbox 360, and games. And all the cheese cake in the world.

Sincerely, Nick Hill

To Santa, North Pole

Christmas list\ Megan Elizabeth Wroblewski

top, paint, linncoln Logs, bells, hiscool musical movie, wood domino, rainbow scratch paper,

Polly

Dear Santa,

Please bring me: Gloves, Bionacles – more than one, if you can, a small stufffy dog, “Real construction”, Remote Control Helicopter, Harry Potter books, Omnitrix that has Aliens when you turn it, Games: Pokeman Wii, Pokemon Ranger Guardians DS, Mario kart DS, More Ben 10 Ultimate Alien guys, Star Wars AT, Double Light Saber, Big Foot, Hide and Seek JoJo, Buzz Light year and Woody React, when he talks

From Kenny Barron

Dear Santa,

I have been trying to be a good boy. For Christmas I want paper jam, a DS, a Wii, Mario galaxy 2, a football, a book about monster trucks, bumble bee mask, bicycle, toystory operation, mouse trap, scoobydoo snowman movie, remote control 4wheeler, train and tracks, a spiker man puzzle, a new coat, a hat, a new coloring book. And I will keep trying to Be extra good

Merry Christmas Santa

Kyle Hankins

Dear, Santa

How is Mrs. Cluase and you. You can get me anything you want. That letter I sent you, just forget it. Your friend Charlee.

Please send back a letter to me.

Dear Santa,

I have a long list of things I want for Christmas.

But the one thing I really, really, x 100 want for Christmas is this little guy.

He is so cute and adorable and would make a perfect member of the Diersing family.

People say pets are a handful… but I’m up for the challenge :]

The one problem I think I can fix is I have a cat, Oreo, but he is so loving I think they’ll get along just fine.

He is a small male Pomeranian pup offered by a breeder. [Breeders sell better puppies by the way].

I know one thing’s for sure. If you look into a puppy’s eyes that little sparkle tells you “I’m lonely”.

It gets me so mad those poor little puppies need a new home and their owners don’t even care about them anymore :[

Now you know my whole story. I know I can trust you!

Sincerely, Ellie

p.s. what do You want for Christmas?

Dear Santa, I have been really good this year. How are your raindeer doing? I hope you have a good Chirstmas. What I want for Chirstmas is a blue gi and a mouth peace and a cup for MMA, Razor Ground Force Drifter, powr wing DLX, and a tecdeck set with lots of tecdecks.

I will have cookies for you Santa and for your raindeer I will have carrots. I can’t wate for Christmas

I love you Santa, Drew

To Santa Claws, North Pole

A tent, Qwirkle, Airplane chase for DS, Dot to dot explorers, NFL vibrating football, Buble blast off, That ball is outta here, Miami Jersey #10, Marble run, Nothing but net, Donkey Kong Country, Skee ball, Q-bitz, Lab mice, Coin clues, CD player

From Nathan Wroblewski

To Santa,

My Christmas Wish List

A Santa hat, Barbie with camera, Rescue pet, To see Santa, Littlest pet shop, Baby dolls, Hannah Game, Decorations

From Camryn Pierson