The season of giving is almost here... and there are plenty of ways to make Christmas a little brighter for local families!
The Town of Pendleton is gearing up for its annual Shop with a Cop program, giving children the chance to hit the stores with local law enforcement for a Christmas shopping experience they'll remember.
Families, businesses, organizations and community groups can sponsor a child or make a donation to help 50 local children. Find details at TownofPendleton.org. Click HERE to make a donation.
How You Can Help:
- Sponsor a Child (ren): A $250 donation will provide one child with their shopping funds.
- Make an Individual Donation: Contributions of any amount are welcome and greatly appreciated. Every dollar helps us reach our goal of serving 50 local children.
- Spread the Word: Share this opportunity with your friends, family, coworkers, and social networks. I've attached a graphic that you are welcome to share!
- Pendleton Town Hall: 310 Greenville St., Pendleton, SC 29670
- Community Foundation of Greater Clemson: 218 Frontage Rd., Suite B, Clemson, SC 29631
The USPS is once again looking for holiday helpers through Operation Santa! Beginning November 16th, 2026, you can adopt a letter from a child or family in need and shop for their Christmas wishes.
Adopters must first complete a brief registration and ID verification. Find out how to spread some holiday cheer at USPSOperationSanta.com!
SOUTH CAROLINA — USPS Operation Santa adoption registration is officially open!
Groups and individuals interested in adopting letters for this year’s program should visit USPSOperationSanta.com, click on the registration link and follow the prompts. For security reasons, all prospective adopters must be vetted through a short registration and ID verification process before they can participate. If someone has adopted letters in the past, they must still be verified each year.
“Every year we receive thousands of letters filled with holiday wishes — often outnumbering available adopters — many letters come from entire households,” said Sheila Holman, vice president of marketing for the Postal Service. “To help these families, we encourage companies and organizations to form teams to adopt a household together, ensuring everyone in the home can share in the joy of the holidays.”
Letter Adoption Opens Nov. 16
Beginning Monday, Nov. 16, approved adopters can begin selecting letters and shopping for gifts. The deadline to send gifts is Saturday, Dec. 12. Interested adopters can follow a few easy steps to start granting wishes:
- Visit the USPS Operation Santa website for account creation and identity verification.
- Find and select a meaningful letter or letters from an individual or a family.
- Shop for gifts either on your own or via Santa’s Gift Shoppe powered by Toys“R”Us.
- Ship all gifts by Saturday, Dec. 12, from a participating Post Office location or through the online gift catalog.
The Postal Service is once again working with Toys“R”Us to provide Santa’s Gift Shoppe. This online gift catalog gives adopters an easy way to shop for and ship gifts directly to recipients. Of course, for those who prefer to shop for gifts in person and send them from a Post Office location, that option is still available.
“USPS Operation Santa has been an enduring holiday program for more than a century. Through the generosity of others, the holiday season has been made extra special for thousands of children and families in need,” Holman said.
The U.S. Postal Service began accepting letters for the 114-year-old holiday program Sept. 14. Letters are available on USPSOperationSanta.com, and they’re ready to be read and adopted*.
For more information on the USPS Operation Santa program, history, important dates and how to participate as either a letter writer or adopter, visit USPSOperationSanta.com.
