
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, December 24, 1993                   TAG: 9312280003
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Wendi Gibson Richert
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

DEAR SANTA...

``I am sorry that I do not believe in you,'' began Jenny Hanks' letter to Santa, ``but will you please bring me some candy and some presents Santa Claus one thing I really want is Sally Secret and one more thing it is a Lovely Puppy and one more thing it is a crawling doll one more thing it is a talking watch and one more thing it is a pair of boots and one more thing it is ...''

Jenny's was one of about 200 letters that the Roanoke post office collected for Santa this year. Thomas Stokes, the youth coordinator at the American Red Cross in Roanoke, has been helping Santa answer those letters.

He shared a few with us.

From Jacob of Bassett: ``This year I would like for you to call me. I also would like to see you this year when you come because I'm not sure if you're the real Santa at the mall and other places. I would like to see Rudolph and the other reindeers, too. When you come, I would like a real green or red elf hat that your elves wear. I would like to wear it.''

From Luke Sponholz, a Virginia Tech student: ``This year for Christmas I would like only one thing. And if I get this one thing, I will sacrifice my gifts for all my next Christmases! That one thing is Shannen Doherty.''

From 10-year-old Elaina: ``I have been real good this year (I think). But I don't want to burden you, so two gifts are enough. The two gifts are Holiday Barbie and world peace. I know you can't make bad people stop being bad, but do your best. Thank you. P.S. Have a good year!''

by CNB