When kindergarten and first grade students returned to school after their holiday break, they had a few thank you notes to write.

Early in December, students had written and mailed letters to Santa. Santa’s “elves” read the letters and wrote a personalized response to each classroom at Park Layne Elementary.

The elves are clients of DayBreak, a program for older adults who need a safe daytime environment, located at Green Hills Retirement Community in West Liberty, Ohio.

In addition to the return letter from Santa (and his elves), each child will receive a bookmark made by the DayBreak elves in hopes of nurturing their love for reading.

Gaybrielle Raye, Park Layne Elementary librarian, coordinated the project and will deliver the thank you notes.