CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A family right here in Corpus Christi is carrying out an important assignment all the way from the North Pole, helping Santa reply to hundreds of letters from children just in time for Christmas.
It's a job the Milikan family has been volunteering to do for the last decade, as a way of giving back and spreading a little Christmas joy.
On Belmeade Drive off Airline Road, you'll notice that it stands out like Rudolph's nose, with a big bright red mail box where letters addressed to Santa are gladly accepted.
"I think it's awesome," said Denise Gonzalez, who brought her grandson to drop off his letter to Santa.
Gonzalez said that bringing her family to drop of their letters has been a ongoing tradition.
"Bringing my youngest son and daughter here when they were little," she said.
After all, that special delivery includes a touch of magic -- snow! Nickolas and Michelle Millikan have been keeping the letter delivery tradition alive at their home for the past decade.
"Every now and again you will hear a little giggle noise and see them playing around," Michelle said.
The duo told 3NEWS that the annual tradition has seen a high amount of success over the years.
"The last two years, we put out a 1000 letters a year," Nickolas said.
Michelle said that inside those letters are wishes and wants and serious questions for the big man in red.
"One of them asked me when is Santa's birthday?" Michelle said.
Due to the success of the tradition, the Milikan's say that every night, there's always more letters. Some include drawings, while others contain sweet heart-felt messages.
"One girl sent us a Taylor Swift bracelet," Nickolas said.
While all the letters hold a special meaning, Nickolas said that their are others that could tug on the heart strings.
"A lot of them can be very open and honest with Santa Claus, we take time writing back in a way that's a positive for their season," Nickolas said.
The family said that the overall goal is to spread a little holiday joy, signed, sealed and delivered just in time for Christmas.
At a thousand letters, the couple spends about $600 dollars in postage stamps every year.
They say donations are accepted but not necessary.
While the deadline to get the letters back to kids before Christmas has already passed, they will still send out replies to those that have already been dropped off, even after the holiday.
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