This snowy Wednesday, Santa Claus made a socially distanced appearance in Birmingham -- and things are looking different this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. Santa also went high tech this year, meeting with children and families virtually on Zoom to share Christmas wishes and spirit. What you may not know is that Santa spends his off season right here in Metro Detroit under the assumed name of Daniel Suttkus. “Children don’t have to worry about Santa catching COVID and not being able to make his deliveries. But right now, before Christmas, we don’t want crowds to gather and we don’t want children to actually come visit face-to-face with Santa.

Elves are going digital this year for the U.S. Postal Service’s annual “Operation Santa.”The 108-year-old program fulfills wish lists for families and children in need, but due to COVID-19, it has been forced to go virtual this Christmas. USPS officials said the new system will allow them to reach more children across the country. Children can address their letters and lists to Santa at 123 Elf Road, North Pole, 88888Helpful “elves” fulfilling the wish list can pick up a letter from any city in the nation. Click here to visit the Operation Santa page.