KIDS' WISHES ANSWERED.

Byline: Stacy Brown Daily News Staff Writer

Stacia Crane will spend Christmas Eve playing Santa Claus to unsuspecting kids and adults, delivering gifts - from toys to bunk beds - as she and more than 100 volunteers answer letters sent to the North Pole.

For the past several years, Crane and her co-workers in the Public Affairs department of the U.S. Postal Service's Mail Distribution Center in Santa Clarita anonymously have answered tons of mail addressed to Santa.

``The letters come in bundles, all addressed to Santa at the North Pole,'' Crane said. ``And it's not just kids, it's teen-agers and adults, too. You never know what you're going to see.''

This year, Crane will be able to surprise some people with extraordinary gifts.

``With the attention we got recently, people have been offering to help and donate items,'' Crane said.

Crane has been actively answering letters and fulfilling wishes for 12 years. She quickly points out that this must be done on her time.

``We have to do this on our breaks and lunch and after work because we have our jobs to do as well,'' she said.

One letter that brings Crane to the brink of tears is from a San Fernando Valley youth, whose wish is for her mother to be driven by limousine to her dialysis appointment.

``That's the thing, you get letters from kids and it's for somebody other than themselves,'' Crane said.

Well, tonight, when she is out delivering gifts, Crane will stop by the home of that family and leave a gift certificate for one limo ride.

Last year, Crane, who has no children, delivered gifts to strangers until 1 a.m. Christmas Day. ``It's exhausting but the joy comes in helping these people,'' Crane said.

``You have to see the look on these people's faces. First of all, a lot of them are not aware that a kid sent a letter to Santa Claus, and then we go there and say we're Santa's helpers and this person asked for this and here it is,'' Crane said. ``They stand there with their mouths open in disbelief.''

Crane opens another letter explaining the need for beds. ``Well, we got bunk beds for the family and they'll get that,'' Crane happily said.

``It is so important to me that no matter what happens in a child's life, they should get something. It is so neat to be able to help,'' Crane said.

More than 10,000 letters pour in each year to the post office addressed to Santa, and Crane makes sure she and other volunteers answer each one.

``Some will just get a response back and some will get gifts. I just make sure that all are answered,'' Crane said.

Some of the letters are requests for food and money for transportation to school and work.

Jodi Martin, who works with Crane, said the saddest though, are from kids who put their siblings' and parents' needs ahead of their own.

``We have kids asking for shoes, when you think they'd be asking for toys,'' Martin said.

``My mom needs a jacket and shoes,'' read one letter.

Crane's voice cracks with emotion at the thought of that boy or girl.

``So how could you not do anything about it?'' Crane asks. ``You don't get many chances to reach out and make a child happy.''

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PHOTO Stacia Crane, manager of Consumer Affairs and Claims for the Postal Service center in Santa Clarita, dabs her eyes reading a touching letter to Santa.

Hans Gutknecht/Daily News