‘Dear Santa: I have been a good girl lately.’

With tons of mail heading for the North Pole this month, the City of Santa Ana and the U.S. Postal Service decided to help kids eliminate the middleman--in this case, the mailbox.

At last Saturday’s Toys On Parade in Santa Ana, eight postal workers circulated among the crowd lining the route and collected an estimated 200 letters to Santa Claus that children had brought to the parade.

Each letter will be answered by Santa, with help from the staff of the Santa Ana Visitor and Cultural Events Center, said Dori Kopacz, the center’s events manager.

Here are a few pieces of correspondence Santa will be seeing soon:

Dear Santa,

Please bring me a walkie-talkie and that’s all. Oh yes, I would like a bike too!

Jason

Dear Santa,

I have been a good girl lately. I would like a barbie in my stocking and I would like a rado, earings, dolls, animals and OXOXOX from my mom and dad.

Love,

Sara

Dear Santa Claus,

Please remember my Christmas gift, daddy no job he cannot buy me a toy, so please don’t forget. My Christmas wishes, peace on earth every time.

Sandra Jane

Dear Santa,

My name is Kari I would like some outfits, some white and blue weaved sandals, games and anything else you want me to have I don’t want to put you in any trouble. The cookies will be on the table with milk.

Kari

Dear Santa,

. . . I have a joke for you. Why did the chicken cross the road? . . .

Joshua

Dear Santa,

I learned how to walk without canes. I’ve been a good girl. I want a pound puppy. My sister Lisa wants a pound puppy, too.

Love,

Jaime

Dear Santa,

Merry Christmas to everybody and peace on earth, please give me my gift.

I love you,

Oliver

Dear Santa,

I want a puuppy. I will take good care of her or him.

Molly

Dear Santa,

I have been good. For Christmas I would like a Cabbage Patch kid, She-ra, Princess of Power and a new tooth for my loose tooth. I would like a teddy with a little pocket to put your loose tooth in and a Teddy Ruxpin.

Love,

Emily

Santa,

For christmas, I want a tape holder, a G.I. Joe I will leave a cookie for you.

Nick

Dear Santa,

I hope your O.K. please bring me a teddy bear and another care bear thank you very much.

Love,

Sarah

Dear Santa,

Hi, I would like a “pound puppy” for Christmas. Please, if there isn’t any more, I would like a “my Buddy” doll. Thank you.

Love,

Anthony

Thanks. P.S. Don’t work too hard.

Dear Santa,

Please give me lots of gifts and love.

Brandon