By Mary DeTurris PoustMixed in with all those funny stories you hear about kids asking Santa for outrageous or charming things is this heartbreaking story from the Washington Post. Apparently, this year more than ever, adults are writing to Santa, asking for life's basic necessities, some including return addresses in hopes that Santa -- or some kind soul -- might deliver.
From Petula Dvorak's story:
Nearly 300 letters sat on the other desks, written in neat print or loopy cursive script, detailing jobs lost and hungry children, addressed by adults to a man in a red suit who is apparently their last hope.
"I'm a single mom living in the D.C. General shelter with my kids," one letter began. It ended not with a request for toys or bikes or a remote control, but for clothes. And instead of model numbers and prices, she included her children's shoe, underwear and clothing sizes.
"I want them to know there is hope," she wrote.
They went on and on like this, hundreds of Hail Mary passes to Santa or the Postal Service or just anyone who might get the letters and read them. Some were optimistic enough to include addresses and names, should a secret Santa choose to respond.
To read the full story, which includes some of those funny children's letters as well, click HERE. And maybe it's time to put in a call to our local post offices to see if there's someone nearby who's hoping against hope for an answer to a letter -- or a prayer.
