A letter asking Santa to grant a Christmas wish could also help a child with a life-threatening illness have their wish granted.

Eli’s Block Party Childhood Cancer Foundation is once again collecting letters for Macy’s “Believe” campaign, which donates $1 to Make-A-Wish for every letter received.

“Since there is no Macy’s up here, we collect and deliver the letters to Birmingham,” said Kristie Williams, whose child, Eli, is the namesake of Eli’s Block Party.

Eli was the first child to be served by Make-A-Wish after the establishment of a chapter for Alabama children only. He died Aug. 5, 2017, after a nearly six-year battle with childhood cancer.

That Christmas, Eli’s Block Party was able to collect almost 10,000 letters to Santa. This year, the goal is 12,000.

“Our deadline is Dec. 20, so we can count and make the trip in time,” Williams said.

Letters can be dropped off at The News Courier office at 410 W. Green St., the Center for Lifelong Learning at 121 S. Marion St. in Athens or Lowe’s in Athens. Letters dropped off with The News Courier before Dec. 14 may be published in the Dec. 22 Christmas Greetings section of the paper.

Santa letters are also being accepted by email to newscouriersantaletters@gmail.com and by snail mail to The News Courier, P.O. Box 670, Athens, AL 35612.