The Crenshaw County Department of Human Resources (DHR) is making sure that no letter to Santa goes unread.

The DHR is asking all local elves to team together to assure that all children in the county wake up to gifts under their tree Christmas morning.

It's time once again for Operation Santa, which is a holiday assistance program offered through the DHR to help needy families in the area provide Christmas for their children during the holidays.

"It's going good so far," DHR employee and coordinator of Operation Santa Rhonda Johnson said. "I can't give any numbers right now because I've been in and out so much. I was there yesterday and today (Wednesday) and all I did was applications. We've had several people call in already wanting to sponsor children."

The elves involved in Operation Santa assure the Jolly Ole' Fat Man receives all Crenshaw County children's letters at the North Pole, so he makes sure to stop at their homes Christmas Eve night.

"We just saw a need and ran with it," Johnson said.

The DHR has been assisting families in the area for over 16 years. Last year, they assisted 136 families including 315

children.

To be eligible for assistance, an individual can't earn more than $250 per month; a family of four, no more than $1,000 per month and the children can't be older than 18-years-old and must be enrolled in school.

"We've never turned anyone down that met those qualifications," Johnson said.

For more information contact DHR at 335-7000.