THEY'RE CHECKING SANTA'S LIST; POSTAL WORKERS FULFILL DREAMS OF LETTER WRITERS.

Byline: Orith Goldberg Staff Writer

Sometimes even Santa Claus is overtaxed. That's when a crew of hundreds of volunteers steps forth to answer the piles of letters addressed this time of year to the North Pole.

And these Santa fill-ins have answered thousands of wishes, coming through with everything from toys to money for utility bills to other kinds of help for those who truly believe.

On Wednesday, members of area Rotary, Jaycees and Kiwanis clubs gathered at the U.S. Postal Service's Santa Clarita Processing and Distribution center to answer Christmas wishes from kids of all ages who have had a tough year.

``This mom is very sad and embarrassed she can't provide for her children,'' said Stacia Crane, who's leading the effort, of one letter writer.

For the past 12 years, Crane, manager of consumer affairs and claims for the Postal Service's Van Nuys district, has set up a makeshift operation of Santa's helpers to read and answer the thousands of letters that come to the distribution center.

Filing letters from the needy into one pile, letters with no return addresses in another and regular letters in a third stack, Crane sat with four volunteers to read the more touching letters and find ways to answer them.

Crane said with the help of the postal workers and other volunteers, people who write in asking for bare necessities such as clothing and food can be helped.

Volunteers can choose to write return letters from Santa Claus or provide someone needy with their request.

``It's up to the individual to decide what they can do,'' Crane said.

Jody Martin, a post office consumer affairs clerk who is also donating her time to read letters, smiled as she recalled how a volunteer's connections made the difference for a woman who wrote to Santa Claus asking for a limousine ride for her mother, who was undergoing dialysis.

``Someone adopted her who had a friend with five or six limos,'' Martin recalled. ``I think they also ended up taking the mother to the beauty parlor, too.''

At 13, Madison Gray already is a six-year veteran when it comes to sorting through letters and deciding which writers are in need.

``I enjoy reading letters from the kids and I feel bad for the needy ones,'' Madison said as she quietly read a letter to herself.

With her keen eye for distinguishing the haves from the have nots, Madison skimmed the letter and quickly placed it in the needy pile.

``When they ask for clothes and they say their mom doesn't have any work, I put them in that pile,'' she said.

Among the stacks of ``needy'' letters, an 8-year-old boy asked for a gift for his little brother and himself, adding that the gift would make them both happy because their mother couldn't afford presents.

Adults also send letters addressed to Santa Claus at the North Pole asking for help with payments, food or clothing.

Santa Claus not only receives letters, but writers send treats such as candy and bread for his reindeer, Crane and Martin said.

Crane said volunteers, 300 strong last year, have been wonderful in their quests to fulfill wishes, giving out such items as beds, computers and even paying utility bills.

``Not everyone is asking for a little toy,'' Crane said.

Crane recalled how fate seemed to have intervened when volunteers read letters that seem to have been written just for them.

A woman about to buy a house read a letter from a child living in that very home. The volunteer was able to personalize the letter and specifically told the child not to forget to take certain items she had seen hanging on the walls in the house.

When Santa receives a letter in a different language, volunteers like Barbara Sanchez and high school Spanish students at Westlake High School help out.

Sanchez goes through at least 30 letters a day, translating from Spanish to English.

Crane said volunteers are especially needed right before Christmas because that is when most of the letters arrive.

Anyone wishing to volunteer is asked to contact Stacia Crane at [phone].

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3 Photos

PHOTO (1 -- color -- ran in SAC edition only) Letters to Santa Claus fill trays at the U.S. Postal Distribution Center in Valencia.

(2 -- color -- ran in SAC edition only) Carla Faith, left, and Madison Gray read letters to Santa to help the writers.

(3) Carla Faith of Granada Hills reads a letter to Santa with some personalized artwork. Other writers send treats for Santa's reindeer.

Shaun Dyer/Special to the Daily News