Have a Christmas gift wish? Call Santa

KIMBALL, S.D. — Every year as Christmas draws closer, children around the world are known to write letters to Santa Claus, addressing their envelopes to the North Pole and carefully affixing stamps to make sure the important correspondence reaches its recipient.

It's a tradition that the United States Postal Service has embraced for years. Now Midstate Communications in Kimball also is trying to provide a direct line to Santa Claus, promoting via its Facebook page a 605 area code hotline that allows kids and their parents to leave a message for Santa, make gift wish requests and share their cheer with the Christmas legend.

The number appeared in a Dec. 1 post on the company's Facebook page promoting the number, and letting kids know that, with their parents’ permission, they could get in contact with Santa himself.

"Hey Kids!!! Santa just called and told the staff at Midstate Communications that he wants his hotline reconnected until Christmas! He told the customer service staff that there is some confusion with the elves at the North Pole on what to bring each good girl and boy," the post reads, along with a graphic of Santa holding a cell phone. "Ask your parents for permission, call the phone number below and tell Santa what you want to see under the tree this year!"

Lori Lafferty, marketing and member relations specialist with Midstate Communications, said the post originated with the memory of the company establishing its own Santa hotline number around the holidays. After browsing the internet, she stumbled upon a company that had set up a Santa hotline with a South Dakota area code.

"I’ve been at Midstate for over 20 years, and I remember when we had a local phone number that kids could call and leave a message. I happened to search and I noticed there was a Santa hotline in the 605 area code," Lafferty said.

The hotline was set up by a company called freeconferencecall.com, which provides free conferencing services that helps "charities, nonprofits, educators, first responders, and other heroes in our community get the tools they need to communicate effectively without boundaries," according to its website.

The hotline is available in 15 countries and 22 time zones, with a unique number for each.

"When I saw that I reached out and listened to it, and it's so authentic," Lafferty said. "There's nothing we could create that would be as good as that particular Santa, because he sounds so realistic."

Lafferty said Midstate did set up its own Santa hotline many years ago, but the practice fell by the wayside over time. This was a chance to bring some of that tradition — like letters to Santa or the evening news tracking Santa's sleigh on Christmas Eve — back quickly and easily.

"It was so amazing. This is a 605 number? Who is doing this?" Lafferty said. "The thought of us taking one of our numbers and forwarding it — if there was something that went wrong there was no point to that — so we just utilized the existing 605 number that was out there."

So instead of going through the technical process of setting up their own line, Midstate decided to promote the number that was already set up and ready to go. The number has several features, including a message from Santa and the ability to leave a message of your own. The number is free to call with normal carrier rates applying and it will even allow you to share the message with loved ones.

When called, the Santa speaking on the message gives a jolly greeting.

"Ho ho ho! Merry Christmas! This is Santa Claus, and you have reached my personal hotline. We have been very busy making all those toys to deliver on Christmas morning. And I want you to know that your family loves you very much. And so do I," Santa says. "So be good, and don't forget to always listen to your parents. When you hear the tone, please leave me your Christmas gift wishes and holiday cheer. And remember kids, I know who's been naughty and nice! Merry Christmas and I’ll see you soon! Ho ho ho!"

Lafferty said posting the number on the company Facebook page was an easy and fun way to keep the spirit of Christmas fresh for Midstate Communications customers.

"We all decided that this was fun, and we needed to do something light-hearted like this," Lafferty said.

Santa can be reached at his hotline by calling (605) 313-4000.

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