AUSTIN, Texas — For the third year in a row, an Austin man is helping children’s letters to Santa make it to the North Pole, hoping that especially this holiday season, it spreads a little extra joy.

Every year, George Stafford looks forward to the holidays when he gets to bring out his Christmas collection.  

“There’s no favorite," said Stafford. "I enjoy every single one of them. I wish I had more.”

Three years ago he added a large mailbox with "Letters to Santa" on it to his front yard.

“If I'm out there, people will actually stop and ask if they can have their children put letters in there, that's fine with me," said Stafford. "I get to read them. Then I forward them on to [Santa Claus], but it's fun to read them.”

He makes sure those letters get to the North Pole, and that Santa’s replies make it back to the children.

“Sometimes the nice ones will get letters or they'll get cards, or they'll get a certificate saying they're nice. Naughty ones might get coal," said Stafford, chuckling.

But this year due to the pandemic, he’s noticed a difference in the letters.

“I would say, 85 percent of the letters that I've seen and sent forward, they've said something about what's going on," said Stafford. "The really interesting ones are the ones that are talking about their family, and want to make sure that their family stays well.”

It’s definitely had an impact on him.

“In all honesty, it makes me feel like I wish there was something I could do," said Stafford.

So he focuses on what he can do, making sure the letters get to the North Pole, and Santa’s responses make it back.

“It makes me feel better and I hope like everything that it makes them feel better," said Stafford. “We need something to make people happy, or some way or another make people smile. And if I can do a little bit of that, that makes me happy.”

And in a year like 2020, a little magic goes a long way.