HUDSON, Ohio — If things always seem a little more magical around the holidays to you, you’re not alone. For the past 4 years, the people of Hudson have been experiencing the magic in the form of a mailbox. It shows up the day after Thanksgiving and stays there through Christmas Eve, all to give children a direct line to Santa Claus.
“Tons of letters come in, every single day,” says Diane Demuynck. The mailbox sits outside her house near Route 303. Children took to the mailbox instantly and the number of letters coming in have increased every year.
Diane continues, “They get very excited. They come by on the buses going to school and as soon as the mailbox is out, their noses and their faces are pressed up against the glass.”
One by one kids put their Christmas wish letters into the mailbox and one by one, they get a letter from Santa back.
“Santa absolutely loves to do it. I think Santa gets more out of reading each letter from every child and being able to write them back, than the children themselves,” says Diane.
The letters have increased so much over the years, now usually between 400 and 600, depending on the season, that Santa had to bring in extra elves to write every kid back. Despite all the writing, it’s a rewarding experience for Santa, knowing that each kid’s holiday will include a little more mail and a lot more magic.
“It’s amazing, it’s so wonderful to be a part of Christmas,” says Diane. “Santa really enjoys what he does.”