The United States Postal Service is attempting to bring a little joy to the hearts of children, and they need your help. This year marks the 103rd anniversary of USPS's Operation Santa, a program designed to match letter writing volunteers with letters addressed to the North Pole written by children. Residents of San Francisco can respond to local letters — hopefully filling the hearts and minds of Bay Area youth with holiday cheer.

According to the United States Postal Service, the program began in 1912 when Postmaster General Frank Hitchcock officially authorized USPS employees to respond to letters addressed to Santa. By the 1940's, the amount of Santa mail had increased so much that USPS began partnering with non-profits all over the country in an attempt to respond to as many letters as possible.

KRON 4 notes that those interested in volunteering their letter-writing skills should head over to the San Francisco Processing and Distribution Center located at 1300 Evans Avenue. Letter writing times are 11 a.m to 1 p.m on the 1st, 8th, and 15th of December.

In addition to simply providing delight and magic to children in this all-too-frequently dreary world, USPS notes that Operation Santa "helps to promote literacy" as a "letter to Santa is often a child’s first written correspondence."

So go volunteer your time and put a smile on some child's face, and who knows, maybe this year you'll get something other than coal in your stocking.

Previously: Post Office Needs Help Answering Kids' Letters To Santa