An exhausted yet exhilarated Globe Santa reported in early this morning with an accounting of his rounds on Christmas Eve: He had delivered more than 22,000 packages containing presents, books, and clothes to 19,938 homes in 192 communities across Greater Boston where 35,570 deserving children were waiting on the dawn.

So 8-year-old Raya, whose mother has died and whose father is blind, is smiling today because her little brother, who is 6, can forget about crying for a while and enjoy playing with his toys. And a single mother waiting anxiously for a new heart in her home west of Boston was able to watch as her 4-year-old boy dashed down the stairs this morning to find some holiday magic under the Christmas tree.

Then there is the young mother of three from the North Shore who wrote to Globe Santa about the additional responsibility she took on this year: the care of her addicted sister’s four children. Finances are tight, so could Santa help her to make sure all the kids got a visit on Christmas Eve?, she asked. He could, of course, and he did, as his sleigh swept over the region.

But Globe Santa was not alone, either in the spirit of holiday giving, or in the doing of his job. There were the contributors to the fund, the individuals, businesses, schools, families, and event sponsors, whose charity will account for more than $1 million when the final tally is made early next month. Parents and guardians who sent requests to the program in the fall received encouragement from the counselors and staff at 105 social service agencies and faith-based organizations and from the state Department of Transitional Assistance. Employees from the agency validate the family circumstances and details like the ages and genders of the children.

And employees of the United States Postal Service came through, as they do year after year, going the extra mile to get Globe Santa’s gift packages to the homes on time.

Wrote Linda Pizzuti Henry, chair of The Boston Globe Foundation, which sponsors the Globe Santa program, in a letter to readers today: “Since 1956, The Boston Globe and its employees have been determined to fulfill the wishes of each parent and guardian who write to us. Staff members sort through letters in our Reading Room. Drivers ensure holiday packages arrive on time. Reporters tell the stories of those in need. This impactful tradition exemplifies the power of community and the generosity of the region.’’

That the spirit of Globe Santa reigns today in so many homes is testament to that power of a community that insists on spreading the joy of Christmas as far and as wide as possible. And so, happiness came in a package last night to the home of a mother, father, and two boys, the youngest autistic and nonverbal at age 2, in a town north of Boston. The mother put her family’s circumstances plainly in her letter to Globe Santa:

“I am working tirelessly to save money. However, I am having a hard time catching up to my bills. We live paycheck to paycheck. which means having to find ways to pay the rent and buy food versus preparing for Christmas.’’ Despite the tough times, she added, “the family remains tightly knit, with enough money to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table.’’

She concluded with a sentiment of gratitude that coursed through many of the 22,000 letters that Globe Santa received this year: “Thank you, Globe Santa, for your consideration in advance. It is companies like yours that do amazing things to help struggling parents put the smiles of joy on their childrens’ faces at times like this.’’

Another mother, single with two girls who received gifts this morning, echoed that sentiment and added a sense of hope about her future Christmases: “I believe that the world works in cycles and that one day I will be fortunate enough to provide another young mother with the joy and hope that I have been provided for so many years.’’

Thomas Mulvoy can be reached at thomas.mulvoy@globe.com.