Postal worker raises $500 for nine-year-old boy who asked Santa for ‘food and clothing’

Postal worker raises $500 for nine-year-old boy after reading his letter to Santa asking for ‘food and clothing for his family because last year you didn’t notice me’

  • Melissa Stinsman, a mail carrier, answered a nine-year-old boy’s sweet letter to Santa Claus 
  • The young boy asked for food and clothing for his family after Santa ‘didn’t notice’ him last year
  • Stinsman answers letters to Santa at the Bloomsburg Post Office in Pennsylvania for the holiday season
  • She helped raise $500 for the family and collected donations at the post office

A Pennsylvania mail carrier gave one family an invaluable Christmas gift when she answered a nine-year-old boy’s wish for food and clothing for his family.  

Melissa Stinsman, an employee at the Bloomsburg Post Office, enjoys answering children’s adorable letters to Santa Claus during the holiday season.

Stinsman, 26, voluntarily spends four hours after her shift answering the letters as Kris Kringle from the North Pole.

Melissa Stinsman (pictured), an employee for Bloomsburg Post Office in Pennsylvania, went answered a nine-year-old boy’s letter to Santa 

She told Yahoo Lifestyle: ‘I usually tell the kids to keep up their grades and to listen to their parents. One asked for a science kit so I told him that one day, he could become a scientist.’

But one letter she received from a young boy tugged at her heart and left a lasting impact.  

‘Dear Santa,’ the note read, ‘I am going to star the top 3 items I really want! 

Among those items were typical gifts like a phone and a trampoline, but the thoughtful child also left stars next to ‘food for family’ and ‘clothing for family.’ 

Among other gifts like a trampoline, the young boy asked Santa Claus for food and clothing for his family this Christmas

Among other gifts like a trampoline, the young boy asked Santa Claus for food and clothing for his family this Christmas

Also enclosed in the envelope were two other letters addressed to Santa Claus. 

One letter said: ‘Dear Santa, last year you didn’t notice me. So this year I hope this year you notice me. And this year I will be good, pinky promise.’

‘Santa I love you with all my heart. I believe in you. Santa, you really are like the jelly to my peanut butter,’ he continued.

A separate letter was written by his five-year-old brother. 

‘When I read the letter, I cried,’ Stinsman said, adding that she wanted to help but the envelope had no return address. 

Community members began donating clothing, toys and gift cards to the Bloomsburg Post Office after word about the nine-year-old boy's Christmas list came out

Community members began donating clothing, toys and gift cards to the Bloomsburg Post Office after word about the nine-year-old boy’s Christmas list came out

Luckily, the young boy provided his full name and after asking around, another mail carrier recognized the last name from their route. 

On Tuesday, Stinsman tentatively knocked on the family’s front door with a heartwarming offer. 

‘I said, “Hi, this sounds weird but I work for the post office and I got your son’s letter. I’d like to help you guys this year”,’ she said. 

The mother responded: ‘Is this real?’

Stinsman initially planned to buy the family a $50 gift card, but when word got out about the young boy’s letter several people wanted to pitch in. 

Stinsman (pictured) spends four hours after she shift answering children's letters addressed to Santa during the holiday season

Stinsman (pictured) spends four hours after she shift answering children’s letters addressed to Santa during the holiday season 

A money pool began at the post office and community members began donating items, including clothing, toys and gift cards.

‘We raised about $500 and people dropped off food at the post office,’ Stinsman said. 

Stinsman will deliver the gift cards to a local grocery store with enough time for the family to prepare Christmas dinner and the remaining packages will be brought to the family’s home on Christmas Eve. 

‘I hope the kids will be distracted when I come. I want them to believe they came from Santa,’ she said. 

Stinsman hopes to start a Christmas tradition, saying: ‘It’s doable if everyone comes together.’

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk