COMPASSION IN ANY LANGUAGE STUDENTS TRANSLATING LETTERS TO SANTA.

Byline: Kathleen Sweeney Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - With each word she translated, the story sounded more and more familiar.

The woman needed Santa's help in buying Christmas presents for her 5-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter. She and her husband don't have any money because he recently underwent a kidney transplant.

The 20-year-old College of the Canyons student, who wants to remain anonymous, asked whether she could personally handle the request for gifts. She understands the family's stress. She's giving a kidney to her father next month.

``It's providential that I would read this letter,'' she said. ``I want to show them Christmas isn't about material things . . .''

It was one of hundreds of letters written to Santa Claus in Spanish that about 30 students are translating for the U.S. Postal Service via the Polo Norte.

The Santa Clarita Postal Distribution Center has always received letters to Santa - about 10,000 a year - from Southern California and as far away as Chicago and Australia.

Postal employees sort through the letters, trying to determine the needy families. With the help of community volunteers, they try to answer some Christmas wishes by delivering decorated Christmas trees, turkeys and hams, and presents for the little ones.

That can range from the current most popular toys to such classics as Barbie dolls and hot rods to blankets to keep them warm at night, a bed to sleep in, clothes and shoes to wear to school and for the fighting to stop in their house.

But the post office also needed help in translating the notes written in Spanish and turned to the college, which accepted the project without reluctance.

``Getting the community involved really brings out the spirit of the season,'' said Stacia L. Crane, manager of consumer affairs for the U.S. Postal Service.

The students began translating the letters two weeks ago after the Thanksgiving Day rush. They are responding to some and translating others so community volunteers and other students can adopt a family.

``This project has really bonded them,'' Claudia Maria Acosta, Spanish department chairwoman, said of the students. ``The first thing they asked me for was a tissue. We feel honored in doing this project.''

Not only are the students using their language skills to translate the letters, but writing back with compassion and learning to recognize slang and misspelled words.

Mostly, the students are realizing there are many needy people and some of them share similar stories.

``I'm really glad I got to be a part of it,'' said Sara Davidson, 18. ``I never thought before about how needy people can be. I'm asking for a computer and leather jacket . . . they are selfless and asking for their parents before themselves.''

Like the 4-year-old boy who asked whether Santa could page his mom when he got the letter so the youngster would know it arrived.

Rocio Leal, 19, plans to make that call, especially since she understands the needs of families in some of the letters she read.

``It's kind of a shocking thing,'' Leal said.

This child asked for a Barbie for his sister, clothes and shoes for both of them and for Santa to help his mom with the dentist's bill before signing his name.

``Thank you for all the help. One million kisses.''

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2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Volunteer Krissy Schranz, left, and intermediate Spanish student Valerie Zamora help translate letters from Spanish to English.

(2 -- color) College of the Canyons students in intermediate and advanced Spanish classes are helping the post office translate letters to Santa written in Spanish.

Shaun Dyer/Special to the Daily News