Schum and her sister-in-law, Jessica Thacker, decided to place “Santa’s Magic Mailbox” in between their houses this year after debating on buying it as a decoration.
Thacker said they saw a similar mailbox at a garden center when Schum suggested the letters to Santa idea. They went home and looked up other mailboxes before purchasing one.
The mailbox is located between 621 and 623 Spinning Road in New Carlisle.
The New Carlisle residents are planning to check the mailbox every night and then write letters back to the kids. Thacker said they will also mail the original letter to Santa back to the parents in a separate envelope as a keepsake.
“With covid this year and so many events canceled, we are trying to help brighten kids spirits,” Thacker said.
They are collecting letters until Dec. 20, but are encouraging residents to drop them off as soon as possible because the holidays may impact mail delivery.
Le Torte Dolci, a bakery located at 36B N. Fountain Ave. in Springfield, also has a mailbox for letters to Santa.
Lisa and Dan Freeman, the owners of the bakery said children can drop off letters to Santa with a self addressed, stamped envelope inside by Dec. 19. Any child that drops in a letter will receive a free sugar cookie.
Lisa told the News-Sun that when the bakery opened three years ago they started doing kids cookie decorating around Christmas, but because of COVID-19 they decided to not do it this year. She said last year they added the letters to Santa as a separate event.
The couple responded to about 25 letters last year, she said.
“We would love to get more letters this year,” Lisa said.
“We really like to give hope to kids and just be as encouraging as we can possibly be. We know families are stressed out this time of year and especially this year given the circumstances, so if we can just spread a little joy through contacting a child we just love to do that,” she added.
The bakery is open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.
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