CHRISTINA EICHELKRAUT / PVTIn a flurry of wrapping paper, the Pahrump Valley Lions help Santa get Christmas presents ready for delivery. Advertisement

No one gets more letters than Santa this time of year, and thanks to the man in red's networking ability, all the Pahrump kids who write to him get a personalized answer back.

Since it sometimes takes a bit for letters to get all the way up to the North Pole, the local Pahrump Valley Lions Club and Pahrump Valley Chamber of Commerce have volunteered to help get letters to Mr. and Mrs. Claus by setting up a mailbox right here in Pahrump.

Children through the age of twelve have been invited to write a letter to Santa and Mrs. Claus at P.O. Box 133, Pahrump, Nevada 89041-0133.

Because Santa's dealing with a lot of letters and admits he's getting on a bit in years, it's very important for kids to include their name, address, and phone number.

However, since it is Santa after all, letters dropped off at the special giant mailbox in front of the Post Office or addressed to the North Pole will still find their way to the workshop.

"The post office in Pahrump has been great about getting letters to me," Santa said, generously taking time out of his busy schedule to talk to this reporter. "If they write 'em, we'll do our very best to get 'em answered."

In addition, the Santa's "elfers" are helping to wrap and deliver the gifts from the North Pole to kids' homes here.

This is the fifth year Santa has enlisted the aid of the Lions and Chamber of Commerce, and the response has been growing yearly.

"The first year we received 35 answerable letters, this year we have in excess of 400," Santa said.

He added that often times along with a wish list kids will thank Santa and Mrs. Claus for the gifts they received the previous year.

One little boy who's written every year includes a four-page list and finishes it off with "and whatever you can give us."

Another child, Santa said, writes on behalf of his two younger siblings.

Every now and then he even gets a letter from a parent with thanks.

"Nobody will be left out," Santa said.

Provided, of course, all of the child's information is included. Unfortunately, Santa said between 40 and 50 letters weren't able to be answered because the children's information wasn't included.

Santa said some of the most asked-for gifts this year included Hannah Montana dolls, XBox 360s, cell phones, and laptops.

Since not all of the elves are computer engineers or cell phone manufacturers, some of the more high-tech toys may be out Santa's ability to provide for now.

However, if there's a list of wishes, it's a pretty sure bet that at least one them will be granted.

Wrapping all the toys and getting them delivered is no small feat, but Santa made a good choice in entrusting the task to the local Lions and Chamber members.

No sooner did the bell adjourning the meeting ring at Tuesday's Lions Club meeting than members were scurrying about in an impressive and organized flurry of wrapping and bow-tying.

And those are just the presents that haven't been wrapped yet.

So it's a sure bet that thanks to the members of local organizations, plenty of kids in Pahrump will have a Merry Christmas.