The Munroe-Meyer Institute tried something new this holiday season to help its families get into the holiday spirit: a program called “Letters to Santa.”
Vintage North Pole mailboxes were placed at MMI’s first-floor yellow awning entrance, third-floor psychology entrance and at the MMI diagnostic center at 412 Saddle Creek Road. Children can place their letters to Santa in the mailbox, and they will receive a letter back from Santa in return. (In addition, MMI’s offsite Autism Care for Toddlers Clinic and the Ronald McDonald House were invited to submit letters.)
“We are accepting letters from everyone,” said Jackie Hankins of the MMI Community Engagement Department, who is coordinating the effort. “Even staff members. But we are especially excited to help our MMI children reach out to Santa.”
The mailboxes were set up on Nov. 26 and accepted letters through Dec. 13.
Hankins called the effort “an opportunity to do something nice for our families and a fun opportunity for kids to believe.”
The mailboxes met with an enthusiastic response.
“This is very rewarding,” Hankins said, displaying a sheaf of letters from children, some illustrated with crayon drawings of Santa. She estimated that the project had resulted in more than 50 letters.
Answers to the letters will be written by members of the community engagement team and other volunteers and will be delivered to the children before Christmas, she said. “The Community Engagement Team is happy that Santa has trusted us to help with this project.”
Hankins said the Community Engagement Team plans to make “Letters to Santa” an annual tradition.
“We’re glad that our children are excited about this,” Hankins said. “And it feels nice to be doing something special for our families as the holidays draw near.”