Posted on 11/22/2007 12:26:09 PM PST by Coleus
For more than 80 years, the U.S. Postal Service was one of Santa's biggest helpers, but modern life has taken a toll on the relationship. What used to be Operation Santa -- a heartwarming tradition of postal workers and volunteers fulfilling the Christmas wishes of thousands of needy children -- is now: "Operation Santa Letter Adoption" Individual or Third Party agreement with indemnity clause.
In other words, St. Nick lawyered up. Perhaps nowhere will the change be more obvious than at the Newark post office, where 20,000 gifts were delivered to needy Newark children last Christmas through Operation Santa. In the past, Newark postal workers read through an average of 6,000 Dear Santa letters per year. They forwarded letters to any members of the public who wanted to answer the Christmas wishes. Some postal workers bought gifts out of their own pockets. They accepted donations and gifts they would pick up for free from donors and then wrap and deliver to the children before Christmas.
Under the revised system, the post office will still hand out Santa letters to people who want to donate. However, people who want to give must come to the post office at Federal Plaza, present a photo ID and sign a contract holding the U.S. Postal Service blameless "... against any and all causes of action, claims, liens, rights or interests of any kind or type whatsoever ..."
(Excerpt) Read more at nj.com ...
The post office spoke and a few have answered. There weren't many, but they were vehement. And disappointed. "I am not recommending participating in the Newark Post Office Operation Santa Project at this time, unless the Grinch's heart grows seven times larger and he reconsiders," wrote Brenda Sherman, who organized the Christmas donation drive at the law firm of McCarter & English, one of the post office's most dependable and generous donors.
"It not only takes the spirit out of the program but unfairly takes away from the donations being offered to the children!" At issue are changes in the U.S. Postal Service's long-running Operation Santa charity in which the mail workers and volunteers bought gifts to answer needy children's letters to Santa. In the past, the Newark Post Office did everything it could to make it easy for private volunteers to contribute. People could come to the post office and pick up a letter from a child or call and a letter would be sent to them.
They would buy gifts and could take them to their nearest post office and the presents would be shipped free to the Newark Post Office, where last year 20,000 gifts were delivered free to the children's homes. This year, however, donors must come in person to the Newark Post Office. They must sign an "Operation Santa Letter Adoption" contract holding the U.S. Postal Service blameless "against any and all causes of action, claims, liens, rights or interests of any kind or type whatsoever ..." and show photo ID. No longer will the post office wrap and deliver the gifts for free. The decision to end free delivery was made locally "based on input from the law department in Washington," said USPS spokesman George Flood, adding there is "no chance" the agency will change its policy.
"Yes, it will be more difficult for donors," Flood said, "But it comes down to this: Do you really want to participate in Operation Santa or not?"
Ok, I'll bite ad be the straight man:
"And would that be a sanity clause"
Ok, I'll bite ad be the straight man:
"And would that be a sanity clause"?
“We’re from the government, and we’re here to help you,” was scary enough.
“we’re the government, and we’re going to help you whether you need it or not,” was worse.
“We’re the government, and you will help us help our way or else,” is worst yet.
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