by Arvin Temkar

P.S. 163 students reading and discussing "Dear Santa" letters

In a back room of Manhattan’s James A. Farley Post Office, a stately building boasting a Corinthian colonnade in the middle of one of the city’s largest shopping districts, a group of fifth graders were making one of the toughest decisions of the holidays— to which less-fortunate families could they give a merry Christmas?

The Student Leadership Group of P.S. 163 in Manhattan, led by veteran Penny Harvest coach Susan Knaster, received a $400 grant from Common Cents this year to participate in “Operation Santa Claus,” a program run by the United States Postal Service to help buy presents and essential items for children and families. It began in the early 1920’s when New York postal clerks began using their own money to get gifts for poor kids who were mailing letters to Santa. Now thousands of New Yorkers drop by the Operation Santa Claus room to take a letter, or several, and buy the items requested by children or parents: shoes, sweaters, Barbie dolls, or a present— any present— so that this Christmas can feel real.

P.S. 163 students shopping for presents

The ten children from P.S. 163 huddled around a stack of twenty letters written to Santa Claus, reading and scrutinizing each one before making the final call— will we be able to buy this single mother the coats and boots she needs for her family? Can we afford to get nine year old Brandon just one present for Christmas this year? For these kids it was a hard lesson in budgeting, empathy, and reality— and for their teacher perhaps a lesson in self-restraint.

“We reject a letter and I can’t stand it,” said Knaster, who has been taking student leaders on this mission for more than twelve years. “Then I end up taking the letter.”

At the table in the back room, the pile of letters had been whittled down to four heartbreaking cases, which volunteer students read aloud to the group.

“Dear Santa Claus,” began one letter, “I am writing you this letter because every Christmas we don’t get any presents because my mom can’t afford to buy any for us… My mom doesn’t have even sheets for our bed or her bed, or utensils for the house.”

“And they need coats!” exclaimed Knaster, holding back a choke. “It’s very difficult.”

But decisions had to be made; cuts were inevitable. It was now a question of logistics— cold, hard business. $400 can stretch a long way, but there was a lot to purchase, and shipping costs had to be factored in.

“You can take this one big family and give them a merry, merry Christmas,” Knaster told the students, “or you can choose this little child who wrote in all by himself as well this family with fewer children.”

After a vote, the students decided to let the big family go— leave that letter for another good Samaritan who might be able to help. Now they were left to buy shoes, winter coats, shirts, hats, and maybe even a toy for a single boy, and a family of five, not to mention bed sheets and utensils.

P.S. 163 outside the post office

“We’re trying to help the people who need important stuff like clothes,” said Matthew, a member of the group. “We had to cut letters that asked for toys.”

“The hardest part was when we decided which families we were going to get presents for,” added Maya, another member. “It felt kind of strange to be granting one family’s wish, but not another family’s.”

After a quick lunch, the students headed to Payless to buy shoes, the most expensive purchases. Students divided into two groups and scattered to find affordable, sturdy shoes that would protect during the winter. The next stop was Daffy’s for clothes, where the kids used calculators to tabulate the totals in case they went over budget, and Knaster bargained a ten percent discount from the manager. Finally, as the end of the school day rapidly approached, the group rushed to Jack’s for wrapping paper and a utensil set— sheets would have cost too much. In the end their thriftiness and hard work paid off, the sum of the purchases, including shipping, totaling $399.82.

A week later students reflected on their day of service, and what it means to give gifts to less-fortunate families. “I felt good but sad at the same time,” said Savion, the chair of the group. “I knew I’d be helping someone in need, but at the same time the stories were sad.”

“If you don’t have clothes how can you go outside?” asked Matthew. “How can you go to school?”

“I learned not to be sad if all I get for my birthday is clothes,” said Maya. “Some people don’t have clothes.”

As the students scribbled down their thoughts and reflections, Knaster posed a question. How many of you think you will remember this experience in ten years? They all raised their hands. As for the families they helped— this will be a Christmas they will not forget.