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Whoopi Goldberg has been on The View for 19 years now. She holds the record for longest consecutive seasons, breaking Barbara Walters’ 17 season streak. (Technically, Joy Behar has the record for most seasons since she’s been on since the start in 1997, but she was not on season 17 and 18.) I bring this up because Whoopi turned 70 last week. In honor of her birthday, she appeared on The View’s companion podcast, Behind the Table, which is hosted by executive producer Brian Teta. During her appearance, Whoopi talked about the importance of donating to charity and giving back to your community in general, especially right now while so many people are struggling. One of the good deeds that Whoopi does is in the spirit of the upcoming holiday season: She secretly answers kids’ letters to Santa Claus. Whoopi highlighted it because it’s something that makes everyone feel good and isn’t a huge time or financial investment.

The EGOT-winning actress revealed on the talk show’s companion podcast Behind the Table that she secretly responds to kids’ written letters to Santa Claus each Christmas season. The 70-year-old confirmed the gesture on Thursday’s installment, which was recorded after The View broadcast her special birthday episode that highlighted a roster of charities of Goldberg’s choice.

“I just feel like everybody needs a little help, and if you can help somebody… it’s why I try to do Santa at the post office. I try to get letters and we try to answer kids’ letters to Santa,” Goldberg said when Teta inquired about the importance of using the episode to give back to the community.

Teta told the View moderator, “I don’t think people know you do that,” but that “it’s a great thing” anyway.

“It’s a thing we can do, and it doesn’t cost a lot,” Goldberg continued. “Because you want to give people the ability to do something that brings up how they see themselves.”

Among charities Goldberg highlighted in her birthday episode were the Heifer Project International aimed at ending world hunger; God’s Love We Deliver, a group focused on ending hunger for those impacted by HIV/AIDS; One Simple Wish, which helps foster children; and multiple food banks across the country.

[From Entertainment Weekly]

What Whoopi is most likely talking about is USPS Operation Santa, which lets volunteers read through letters, choose one(s) to adopt, and then respond to it and/or send a gift back to the child. (The USPS also works with a charity called Be An Elf to help with sending gifts to children.) It’s really great that she’s involved with this and is raising awareness for others who may not know about it. I would absolutely love to do something like this and am going to look into it more. A few years ago, our school’s parks & rec after-school program did a holiday thing where any kid that wanted to could write a letter to Santa and drop it off in this cute little “North Pole” mailbox they had set up. The counselors were college kids and high-school seniors, and they all stayed late one evening to answer all of the letters as either Santa or the elves (I can’t remember which it was). My kids were so excited to get letters back. Sometimes, even the simplest thing like getting mail back from Santa can really brighten a child’s day.

Whoopi also highlighted some other charities that she likes working with, including World Central Kitchen, different food banks across the country, and more. You can find the full list with links here.

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