The Hometown Volunteer Fire Company recently added a special mailbox where children can drop letters to Santa.

And from there, the greetings will travel on the North Pole Express right to the Jolly Old Elf, said Stephanie “Steph” Gerhard, a fire company volunteer.

“This is the first time we have had this,” said Gerhard, who came up with the idea and is coordinating with Santa’s elves to make sure the letters arrive to Santa in time for Christmas.

All will receive a reply, she noted. Her mother, Nancy Zehner, is helping to make it happen.

According to Gerhard, a few dozen good boys and girls have already dropped notes in the box outside the fire company at 45 Mahanoy Ave. (Route 54).

And while most include standard requests for an assortment of toys, some have unique wishes.

“Somebody asked for a weed whacker, and another asked for a shovel,” Gerhard said.

The “mailbox,” she said, had been on the fire company’s lot for a number of years. It was originally a bin for clothing and shoe collections.

“It was unused since COVID,” Gerhard said.

Fire company officials contacted the company that placed the box. Despite numerous calls, no one ever responded.

“So we recycled it,” Gerhard said.

She noted that Elden Neifert cleaned and welded the rusty, white bin before he painted it red. George Gerhard, owner of Valley Grafix, designed and donated the lettering.

A gold mail slot was added.

Children should include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Gerhard said those who would like a return letter should drop theirs off by Dec. 10.