Written by Kathy Witt
Santa Claus may be far, far away at the North Pole, but he has a helper right here, in the Georgetown Tourism office. 
Linda Webster, aka Local Elf, makes sure those all-important letters to Santa get into the right hands.
Each year, Linda answers dozens and dozens of letters (with last year’s letter count topping out at over 100) on behalf of Old St. Nick. Children drop their letters off at the Georgetown & Scott County Museum, located in the historic 1905 Post Office building, on the day of Georgetown’s tree lighting – this year planned for Saturday, Dec. 5. (See ChatSnap)
The children’s letters typically include those things they most want to see beneath their tree on Christmas morning.
“A lot of times they’ll say really nice things to Santa,” said Linda. “They say to tell Mrs. Claus hello, thank Santa for last year’s gifts and mention they’re leaving him milk and cookies.”
Linda recalls one memorable letter written by a little girl who didn’t want anything for herself; she just wanted her friend with cancer to have a good Christmas.
“Each letter is unique,” she said. “Some kids will ask for everything under the sun; others, practically nothing. The very small kids just scribble on paper.”
And it’s not only kids who write to Santa. Adults drop off their own letters.
“That’s always a surprise,” said Linda. “Sometimes they ask for outrageous things, like a new husband.”
One adult requested a getaway. Linda’s response? “Put yourself in a bubble bath, close the door and imagine you’re in a faraway place.”
Linda and several other elves work hard to get all of the letters answered then sorted into the mailboxes of the old Georgetown Post Office. Children return to the museum on a designated day, get a key and unlock their assigned mailbox. Waiting within is their personalized letter, written on official “From the Desk of Santa Claus” stationery.
“Because I know how hard you have tried to be good this year, I have added your name to my ‘Nice List.’”
“It is an honor and privilege to try and make children everywhere happy and let them know that they are loved.”
“I’ll ask Santa to look around the Toy Shop and see if there is anything else he thinks you might like.”
Beneath Santa Claus’ signature, each letter is stamped “check twice and signed.”
While Santa’s letter references the child’s requests, the elves never promise delivery, and that includes pets.
“You have to be careful and not make any specific promises,” said Linda, who lets children asking for pets know that, because of the freezing temps at the North Pole, it’s too cold for puppies and kittens to ride in Santa’s sleigh.
She also won’t promise specific electronics, which top the list of requests each year. Instead, Linda assures children that she’ll tell that year’s chief elf to add the item to the list at Santa’s Toy Shop.
“It gives a little hope, but doesn’t send them over the edge,” she explained. “We don’t want tantrums on Christmas morning.”
The Letters to Santa activity is free. This year, the museum is asking kids to write their letters and send them in via email. Follow these steps to submit your letter to Santa.
1) Write your letter.
2) Take a picture of your letter and email it to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
3) In the email, include:
-Your full name
-Age
-Gender
-Your full mailing address because you will get a personal response from Santa in the mail.
Check the Georgetown & Scott County Museum’s Facebook page for updates.
Author: Kathryn Witt
Kathryn Witt is an award-winning travel and lifestyle writer, syndicated columnist and author of several books, including Secret Cincinnati, The Secret of the Belles and Atlanta Georgia: A Photographic Portrait. A member of SATW, Authors Guild and the Society of Children’s Books & Illustrators, she lives in northern Kentucky.
