Molly Bunch doesn’t have a bushy white beard, a big belly or a red-and-white suit, but she writes to children on the authority of none other than Santa Claus.

The sophomore at Free State High School is among dozens of student volunteers in the school’s Key Club who are helping write the responses to area children who have sent letters to Santa asking for toys, dolls, gadgets, games — even a motorcycle. The students are responding to Santa letters sent through the Lawrence post office.

“We read them all,” Bunch said. “Some of them are funny. Some are sad.”

The replies remind children that elves have been working throughout the year to make delightful gifts for boys and girls. The reindeer’s bells have been polished and Santa’s suit has been pressed.

Free State senior Caleb Powers said the reply letters made no promises that a child would get everything for which he or she asked.

“It’s hard to address those things,” he said. “It’s about being good boys and girls.”

Hannah, one of the prolific writers to Santa, wrote in her four letters that she wants only a gumball machine this year. She had one she adored, but accidentally dropped the glass globe that held the colorful gumballs.

“I cried for three days,” she wrote to Santa. “So if you could get me one, then I would be really happy.”

P.S.: If it’s not too much trouble, Hannah wrote, the family’s dog, Scamper, would like a box of dog biscuits.

Caleb Powers, a senior at Free State High School, writes responses to children's letters to Santa Claus. Members of the high school's Key Club are volunteering to answer letters to Santa Claus processed through the Lawrence post office.

Other children peppered Santa with advice, promises and questions.

One child suggested Santa bundle up for the sleigh ride at night. Another promised to leave carrots for his team of reindeer. A writer wondered whether Santa preferred skim or 2 percent milk.

“It’s 2 percent,” assured letter writer Amanda Pierce, a sophomore at Free State.

The students are working through the first batch of letters, more than two dozen, passed to them by the post office. They said they’d welcome the opportunity to reply to many, many more.

The mailing address is simple: Santa, North Pole. Don’t forget a return address.

“Carriers will pick them up,” said Rose Campbell, who coordinates the project at the post office.

As of Friday afternoon, the Lawrence post office had received about two dozen letters addressed to Santa Claus. A few are pictured above.

In years past, she said, post office staff helped Santa attend to letters. But the offer from Free State’s Key Club was a nice gift.

“We’d like to make it a tradition,” Bunch said.

In addition to a reply letter, the children are being sent a picture of Mr. and Mrs. Claus they can color, a bookmark and a holiday recipe. The project has been supported by KU Printing Services and Wal-Mart.