The U.S. Postal Service is in on the best Secret Santa action ever! Through USPS Operation Santa, you can gift a child in need with something off their holiday wish list.

Every year children from across the country put pen to paper and write out a hopeful list of possible presents. While many of these would-be gifts end up under the Christmas tree, many go unanswered.

photo: Mike Arney via Unsplash

Low-income families who need money for necessities, such as rent or food, can’t always fill their kiddo’s Santa lists themselves. Here’s where the USPS and you can help. Through Operation Santa you can make a difference in a child’s life, giving them the Christmas of their dreams.

So how can you help a child this holiday season through the USPS? Visit the USPS Operation Santa website and browse letters from hopeful children. Choose a letter to adopt (or a few), fill the wishlist, wrap the gifts and bring them (plus the necessary postage) to a participating post office by December 18, so kids can receive them by Christmas.

Here’s a bit more info on how the program works: the USPS receives thousands of letters to Santa every year and scans them, with personal information hidden. Once they’re live on the website, people like you can adopt the letters and help Santa fulfill their wishes! The gifts are shipped on behalf of the North Pole so you can deliver holiday magic together.

—Erica Loop

 

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For many families, the holidays are synonymous with spending time with family. However, some years that’s just not possible. Whether you can’t spend the holidays with loved ones because of the pandemic, a December due date, or work demands that make travel difficult, we have plenty of tips for staying connected and making the holidays memorable.

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1. Stay connected throughout the festivities.
Before the holidays, figure out how everyone who is usually together can get connected virtually. Poll your people before the big day and make a plan in place to chat via FaceTime, Skype, Zoom or Duo. A great gift to ensure this happens would be a Google Nest Hub with video capabilities. Set one up in each household and check in throughout the day. Kids can call just by saying, “Hey Google, call Grandma” to say thank-you for a present, you can leave the video chat open for hours while opening presents Christmas morning. It’s easy for Grandma to use too!

2. Take photos.
Keep your cell phones handy throughout the day so you have plenty of memories to share with friends and family later. Document everything from waking up to opening gifts and eating the day’s big meal. Take a photo at least once an hour on the top of the hour, or more often if you feel up to it. If you have an old cell phone lying around, give it to your kid(s) so they can share the day from their perspective too!

3. Focus on who you are with instead of who is missing.
It’s okay to feel sad about not being with loved ones during the holidays, but a silver lining is that you have more time and attention to focus on those you are with. Instead of dwelling on what you're missing, take the time to enjoy a low(er) pressure holiday where you can really focus on the small group you have nearby.

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4. Keep old traditions going.
Although holidays away from family mean you will miss some holiday traditions, you may be able to figure out modifications for others. Like, if your mother or uncle always makes a special dessert, get the recipe and make it yourself. Or, since having kids sit on Santa’s lap is likely out this year, visit St. Nick virtually. One options is Jingle Ring. For under $25,  kids can invite grandparents and cousins to join in the (virtual) magic from afar.

5. Create new family traditions.
Find a new favorite light display in your neighborhood, write down something you're grateful for every day and read them all aloud during your holiday celebration, or choose a new book to read together on Christmas Eve. Here are more ideas for holiday traditions to start with your baby.

6. Plan holiday activities to do together.
Even though you can't be together, you can still plan activities to do together. Get cousins the same advent calendar like this Elf on the Shelf Advent North Pole Calendar Train that comes with figures kids can use during virtual playdates in the countdown to Christmas. Tracking Santa through NORAD or dishing about great Black Friday deals can be almost as fun virtually as it is in person. Grandma can read The Night Before Christmas or The Very Hungry Caterpiller's Eight Nights of Chanukah over FaceTime. Watch a holiday movie together using Disney+ hangout or Netflix Party while eating the same snacks. Instead of cooking an elaborate meal for just a few people, decide that everyone will order a feast from somewhere that ships nationwide like Veestro. Or, order kits like these from Global Grub that come pre-packaged with almost everything you need to make delicious dishes like mochi ice cream or ravioli together over Facetime or Zoom. Get creative!

sisters dancing in christmas living room
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7. Make a shared playlist.
Another way to experience the holidays together while apart is to create a virtual musical playlist. Make your playlist full of holiday classics or include everyone’s non-holiday favorites, from grunge to Cardi B. Sharing the same soundtrack for the day can make you feel closer together and bring back shared memories tied to the songs.

8. Have a matchy holiday.
Not only will matching clothing make your holidays Insta-ready, it’s another way to feel connected when you are far apart. Matching attire can also double as a great gift. Check out affordable matching PJs from Pat-Pat or custom shirts from Etsy shop MinnieMadeit. For a less expensive but still super cute option, coordinate socks with funny sayings from Lavley; wear socks with the same message or customize them to each person's interests or personality. These would be especially appealing to anyone who is reluctant to go full-fledged matchy-matchy.

9. Exchange gifts.
When you mail gifts to family and friends, include a note letting them know what you love about them and what you miss about spending the holidays with them. To simplify gift-giving, create a virtual secret Santa. Also, keep in mind that when you are apart, gifts from the heart are even more meaningful. A Little Love Jar filled with personalized notes from friends and family from all over will be treasured and will keep giving as the lucky recipient reads the notes over and over again.

The holiday season is right around the corner. HARIBO is releasing limited-edition treats from playful Candy Cane gummies to giftable Goldbear boxes. These gummies will make the perfect stocking stuffer, hostess gift or last minute gift.

HARIBO Candy Cane Gummies

HARIBO Candy Cane Gummies ( $3.89) feature red, green and white candy canes in three holiday-spirited flavors, Candy Apple, Cheery Cherry and Sugar Plum.

HARIBO Holiday Acrylic Bear Front

HARIBO Goldbears Acrylic Giftable Bear ($7.99) includes the signature Goldbears you love in fun-size packs, perfect for a stand-out hostess gift or Secret Santa gift exchange.

HARIBO Goldbears Billboard Box

Goldbears Holiday Novelty Billboard Box ($5.99) encloses two shareable bags of the iconic Goldbears packaged in a bright, joyful container – making it a festive stocking stuffer.

—Jennifer Swartvagher

All photos courtesy of HARIBO

 

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Disney fans can bake up a batch of sweet, sweet cookies—courtesy of Mickey and Minnie. Target has Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse cookie mix, and now you can treat your sweeties to holiday sweets!

The baking kits include either Chocolate Gems Cookie Mix or Chocolate Gems Pink Cookie Mix in cute glass containers and come with a ready-made gift tag and a red ribbon.

Each perfectly packed jar makes about 30 cookies and has everything you need to bake a plate stacked with holiday happiness. These big red bullseye finds are ideal secret Santa gifts or save the Disney cookie goodness all for yourself.

Fin the kits at Target for $9.99 each. If you’re looking for more Mickey and Minnie baking fun, Target also has the Disney Eats Gingerbread Cookie Kit ($5.99), Disney Eats Sugar Cookie with Decals ($4.99) and the Disney Eats Rice Crispy Train ($8.99).

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Target

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If you’ve ever dreamed of going to work with Pam, Jim and Michael in Scranton, then you’ll be itching to piece together this new The Office construction set.

The Office Dunder Mifflin Scranton Branch Construction Set is a mini model of the famous office where Jim put Dwight’s stapler in Jell-O and Michael buys an inappropriately expensive Secret Santa gift, among so many other hilarious moments.

The 330-piece set features the reception desk where Pam sits, Michael Scott’s office and the desk area shared by Jim and Dwight. It also comes packed with three figures of Jim, Dwight and Michael.

The full set is currently available at Target for $25.

—Shahrzad Warkentin

All photos: Target

 

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Grandparents have plenty of wisdom and life experience to impart, but when it comes to being tech-savvy they aren’t always the best. But that won’t always stop them from trying. Despite a clear language barrier between one grandma and her new Google Home, she keeps trying to give it commands and the results are hilarious.

As PEOPLE reports, 85-year-old grandmother, Maria Actis was gifted a Google Home Mini in her family’s Secret Santa exchange, but she didn’t exactly hit it off with the device. “My grandmother was very excited to show everyone her new gift, but she obviously needed a little help using it,” Ben Actis, Maria’s grandson, told PEOPLE. “The whole day was like that with her!”

It’s impossible not to laugh when Maria repeatedly calls the device “Goo Goo” instead of Google, but the cutest moment of all is clearly when she finally gets the device to work and she jumps up from her seat in awe and disbelief. It’s not hard to see why the adorable video has already racked up over one million views on YouTube.

What funny reactions has your family had to smart devices? Share your stories in the comments below.

Feeling fortunate for all you have? Then help families in need out; the call for donations is greater than ever.  Here’s a list of locally-based, lesser-known charities that would be so very grateful for your generosity this year.

San Francisco

The Edgewood Center helps children and families who have suffered abuse, neglect, and mental illness.  Their toy drive runs through December 17.  Bring a new, unwrapped gift to their office at 1801 Vicente Street from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday. Or take a look at their online wish list and donate a gift via Amazon.

Westfield San Francisco Center at 865 Market Street is hosting a toy and clothing drive through December 29 to benefit SOMA Child Care, Inc. Bring donations of new and gently used toys and clothing to the collection boxes next to the Santa Set.

The charity Arriba Juntos (meaning literally ‘forward together’ in Spanish) provides job training and support services to those with limited English language skills as well as at-risk youth in the community.  Their annual Toy Giveaway Party, ‘La Posada’, (a pre-Christmas celebration of the Nativity in Latin America) is on December 23 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 1850 Mission Street.  Bring along a toy to donate and enjoy the festivities.

East Bay

Building Futures is based in San Leandro and provides shelter and support to women and children who are homeless and victims of family violence. Choose a toy or other gift from the wish list on their website and bring it to their office at 1395 Bancroft Avenue by December 16.

Peninsula

Sleep Train in Redwood City’s Secret Santa Toy Drive for Foster Kids runs until December 12.  You can bring a new unwrapped toy to any Sleep Train store — check their website for times.

Jewish Family and Children’s Services are partnering with other charities this year and organizing a holiday toy drive which runs through early December. Educational toys and books for preschoolers are in particular demand.  Drop off new, unwrapped toys between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday at their offices either in San Mateo (2001 Winward Way, Suite 200), or in Palo Alto (200 Channing Avenue).  Call 650.688.3030 with any questions.

Marin

San Rafael’s Santa Cop Toy Drive is asking for new, unwrapped toys for children in need.  Drop off your donation at various locations throughout San Rafael, including the downtown Police Department at 1400 Fifth Avenue.

Novato Human Needs Center serves low-income families in their community. They are hosting a ‘Holiday Share 2010’ toy drive at Novato Fair Shopping Center through December 14th from 12 to 5 p.m., and are asking for donations of new, unwrapped toys and games for babies, children, and teens.

—Annie Sheldon

The Red Tricycle office has always been dog-friendly. In fact, many of us were parents to our furry children before our actual kids came along. Meet some of Red Tricycle’s pooches by scrolling down below.

Indy the Bulldog

photo: Kevin Cabral

Lovable Indy loves to slobber, snort and pass gas for anyone lucky enough to be sitting near him. In his free time, he likes to lounge and dress up. Last year, he got lucky during Red Tricycle's Secret Santa and scored big time with this festive costume. He's still learning how to interact appropriately with children and enjoys being the apple of his dad's (aka Kevin Cabral's) eye. 

Murphy the Lab/Hound Mix (but Mostly Hound)

photo: Ian Lynch

When Murphy was a puppy he used to come into the Red Tricycle office until he had a few accidents and his mom (aka Erin Lem) became mortified by her pup's bad habits. He's since grown out of his puppy antics, and now spends his time napping all day, preferably on the bed. He's mentally preparing to be a big bro when baby comes into the picture next year. 

 

Dipper, the Labradoodle

photo: Jacqui Boland

While not born in the Bay Area, Dipper loves being a California dog. He is a great companion to Jacqui Boland and family, and enjoys long walks on the beach and trail running with his mom. Dipper is also a great watch dog—he notifies everyone in the office anytime the mailman or delivery drivers are about to knock!

 

Marshmallow (aka Mel) the Labradoodle

photo: Jacqui Boland

Marshmallow (Mel for short) is Dipper's younger sis. She's a smart and savvy pup who has been known to escape her yard to chase deer and eat Christmas presents. Mel and Indy love to play and have been known to dominate the Sausalito dog park during their lunch breaks. 

 

Rocky the Golden Retriever

photo: Erin Lem

While not an official Red Tricycle team member any longer, Rocky stole our hearts with his innocent puppy looks and great behavior. He was a good sport, enduring many hours of Indy playtime and even more hours of a certain editor taking countless selfies with him. 

 

Faith, the Senior

photo: Kevin Cabral

While Faith's age keeps her from visiting the office often, when she does make an appearance she is royalty. She tends to keep to herself and spend her days napping on her bed, which is placed high up on a desk. After all, who can blame her? At that age, you wouldn't want to be around rambunctious puppies either!