Chicago Title runs ‘Letters to Santa’ replies, helps power Tehachapi’s Hometown Christmas and snow‑globe draw

A Chicago Title representative described the company's long-running local presence and explained how its team runs a 'Letters to Santa' program that the group has operated since 2020 to add a personal, small‑town touch to Tehachapi's Hometown Christmas.

"We take those letters and we sort through them ... they receive a letter back from Santa Claus, as long as they include their return address," a Chicago Title representative said, describing the process of writing reply kits and adding short, personalized PS notes to let children know their letters were read.

Staff said the program handled a little over 300 replyable letters this year; some letters that are dropped in the decorative mailbox lack return addresses and are kept in a separate stack that may not receive replies. The team clips letters by household, uses five base templates to keep reply volume manageable, and then personalizes each reply so it reads as if Santa wrote the child back.

Chicago Title staff recounted emotional and humorous moments: one past letter asked Santa "not to have cancer," an example speakers said underscored how meaningful the replies can be for families. Staff said the letters are collected at Hometown Christmas and throughout the season; the team sorts by street and address to identify siblings and ensure consistent replies.

The special candy‑apple red mailbox was donated by the Tehachapi Post Office (regional pickup from a Van Nuys facility), repaired by a local auto body shop, and finished by local artisans. The snow globe installation in downtown — funded in part by a donation from the Shaw family matched by the city and fabricated by Tehachapi Signs with art from Make Art Tehachapi — has become a popular photo site, organizers said, drawing local and out‑of‑town visitors and helping downtown businesses during the holidays.

"We estimated this year a little bit over 300," the Chicago Title representative said when asked how many letters the team could respond to; they signaled capacity is growing as more volunteers join the effort.

Chicago Title representatives said the program is run by a small in‑office team (noting Caitlin was not present) and several volunteers who help write and send replies. The group encouraged parents to participate at Hometown Christmas or drop letters at the depot Christmas tree, where the mailbox is located after the event.

The program is presented as a multi‑partner, community effort involving a local title office, city staff and private donors; organizers said they plan to expand volunteer help for the coming year and expect letter volume to increase.