MYRTLE BEACH -- More than 87,000 letters make their way through the main Myrtle Beach post office during the holiday season.
But two letters came through this year that stopped the people on the delivery line in their tracks.
"We get caught up in delivery and doing everything. We don't often take time to stop and say "whoa" look at this," said Post Office Customer Service Supervisor Virginia Ruby. "But everybody that read the letters and stopped to get their hands on it said we need to pay attention, and can we do something here?"
Both letters begin with two simple words, "Dear Santa", and explain how this Christmas their family will go without a tree, winter clothes and toys.
"Normally we see a lot of sad letters, but this one reaching out with the three kids, it was very emotional.," said head postmaster Daniel Washington. "It touched my heart. I have kids so I know how it feels."
The letters explain how a family of three young girls and their mother were kicked out of their home and currently live in a rented condo in Myrtle Beach.
In one letter, the young girl explains how she has no clothes. "I get teased everyday because I wear the same stuff everyday," said the 7-year-old.
The other letter details what happened when the mother told her children they would not get toys this Christmas.
"We said, it's ok Mom. We hugged her and she cried," said the 11-year-old girl in her letter. "I said don't cry mom. It's okay." The girl then made her final plea to Santa. "Santa, if you can help, that will be good. If not, I know you're busy."
"In that letter there was something that was very important, there was a family that was put out of a home and was in need," said Washington. He visited the family to make sure the girls wishes were warranted. He found that they were when he spoke to the mother.
"We explained that we were willing to assist her and when we did that she got to crying. She was very emotional."
Post office workers and staff started collecting donations from their employees and merchants who heard about the Dear Santa letters.
Postal employees brought a tree with ornaments to the family earlier this week, and Friday a mail cart full of gifts, toys and clothes were sent to make the girls' Christmas dreams a reality.
"They believe in the goodness that there is something better that there is a special magic that's created in the world," said Ruby. "I think for children it's really important to preserve that."
"One of the carriers who was dropping off the ornaments from Santa said that the little girls were running beside the mail truck and waving and like thank you."
Ruby was a part of the group who dropped off the presents that include $400 worth of gift cards for the mother. "You just get the sense that they are happy. You know whatever they're doing and whatever is going on in their life that they are kind of in a happy place now. This moment and this Christmas will be happy."
