Yellowknife (Dec 24/03) - With arms full of special letters awaiting, Santa's elves are sharpening their pencils.

With hundreds of letters addressed to Santa, they'll need a reply before the big day.

At the Yellowknife post office, Elf Loretta is among the 20 elves who have been answering children's letters from across the world.

"We gotten more than 900 letters so far," she said.

"Children have written from all over the world -- from Australia, Newfoundland, Cambridge Bay."

She added that they received the first letter on Oct. 31.

Santa's helpers nationwide at Canada Post have been answering letters for the past 21 years. They are answered in English, French and 26 other languages, as well as in braille.

While many letters are requests for the latest toys on the market, Elf Loretta says some contain questions about Rudolph the reindeer and Mrs. Claus.

"One little girl told me 'I will give you my tooth because I like you,'" she laughed.

But Elf Loretta also says there has been a growing trend among children, asking to share toys with others less fortunate.

"They are thinking about others more," she said.

Elf Judy helps coordinate the volunteers who answer children's letters throughout the North.

"I ensure there is enough stationery sent to all the outlets and send the statistics to Ottawa," she said of the program.

She also helps answer the letters to Santa.

Nationwide, Elf Judy said about 469,000 letters have been answered so far.

But despite the volume of letters, both elves say each letter is special and they try to personalize each letter.

Even after wading through the mounds of letters it's still a magical time for the elves.

"I wouldn't do it if I didn't enjoy it," Elf Loretta said