They may be addressed to the North Pole, but letters to Santa Claus from needy area children have already started stacking up at Sacramento post offices.

For the 17th year, Sacramento Post Office employees are reading through the letters, identifying those from needy families, and filing them according to zip code. The letters are then housed at the Dear Santa Letter Station at the Royal Oaks post office in Sacramento.

That's where the public comes in. Individuals, families, and businesses can choose a letter or letters and adopt a needy child or family. Sacramento Post Office spokesman Ralph Petty said people like to come in and find letters from children who live near them.