Kids asking Santa for toys and solutions to world’s problem

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VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – There’s more on the minds of our children than just the latest high-tech device this Christmas.

Richmond’s Fred Danells is a retired Canada Post employee who has been helping Santa answer letters for 15 years, and he says there’s something else in a lot of the letters he comes across: concerns about the troubles of the world.

“Particularly with the wars or a famine or if there’s an environmental concern in the news, obviously they are picking this up from family and school and the news media, and they reflect that in the letters.”

Some 200 helper elves from the Lower Mainland are part of the Canadian team that helps Santa answer more than a million letters a year.

Danells says some kids try to get Santa’s attention through bribery. “Like jelly beans and money and candy canes. We interpret it as trying to bribe Santa (laughs). It’s very interesting and it’s always fun every year as we share and talk together about each letter that’s special and unique.”

Danells says Barbie dolls and toy cars are consistent requests each year, while this year the new iPhone and iPad top wish lists.

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