According to Jay Weiss, founder of Friends of Santa, There are many children that may not be getting anything for Christmas, and there are many persons that are more than willing to write letters to children.” Weiss adds, This organization is created to put these two groups together, at one particular time of the year, resulting in good feelings for both.”

Children may write a letter to: Friends of Santa, 10000 W Bay Harbor Dr #605, Bay Harbor Islands, FL 33154. All letters may not be answered, depending on the volume received, and the return address will be used only once for the return letter to the child and discarded afterwards.

In Americas Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being, 2007”, the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics, reported:

• In 2006, there were 73.7 million children in the United States, 1.3 million more than in 2000. This number is projected to increase to 80 million in 2020.
• In 2005, 40 percent of U.S. households (both owners and renters) with children had one or more of three housing problems: physically inadequate housing, crowded housing, or cost burden resulting from housing that costs more than 30 percent of household income. In comparison, 37 percent of households with children had a housing problem in 2003. This percentage has increased over the long term from 30 percent in 1978.
• In 2005, 17.1% of children ages 0–17 lived in poverty.
• In 2005, 17% of children ages 0–17 lived in households classified by USDA as food insecure.”