'Tis the season for Southwest Florida children to make their Christmas lists and state their case on whether they've been naughty or nice this year.

Now through Nov. 28, boys and girls across Southwest Florida can write their letters to Santa at any Sunshine Ace Hardware store to be sent to the North Pole. Sunshine Ace Hardware has a specially marked mailbox at each retail location to place letters bound for Santa's home.

"Through our Letters to Santa program, we'll be sending messages directly to Santa's home at the North Pole, and he has promised that he'll respond to every letter," said Sunshine Ace Hardware President Michael Wynn. "Santa is already getting busy, but he still has time to look through each letter and decide who's been naughty or nice and pick out special gifts for a magical Christmas morning."

Parents can bring their children to the following stores during regular business hours to write and send Letters to Santa:

Collier County

• Downtown Naples (141 Tamiami Trail North)
• East Naples (4433 Tamiami Trail East)
• Marco Island (1720 San Marco Road)
• Golden Gate (11673 Collier Blvd.)
• North Naples (8850 Founders Square Drive)
• Ave Maria (5630 Ave Maria Blvd.)
• Winchester Center (13855 Winchester Trail)
• Pelican Bay (8813 Tamiami Trail North)

Lee County

• Bonita Springs (9100 Bonita Beach Road)
• San Carlos Park (18911 Tamiami Trail South)

Charlotte County

• Port Charlotte (3035 Tamiami Trail)
• Port Charlotte (912-A Kings Highway)
• Babcock Ranch (42080 Cypress Parkway)

Pinellas County

• Largo (1015 W. Bay Drive)

Manatee County (Crowder Bros. Ace Hardware)

• Bradenton (5409 Manatee Ave. West)
• Lakewood Ranch (2401 Lakewood Ranch Blvd.)

Sunshine Ace Hardware will also host Cookies with Santa at select locations. Children can enjoy cookies and take photos with Santa from 9 to 11 a.m. at the following locations:

• Nov. 28 at 9100 Bonita Beach Road in Bonita Springs
• Nov. 29 at 8850 Founders Square Drive in North Naples
• Dec. 6 at 18911 Tamiami Trail South in San Carlos Park
• Dec. 13 at 5630 Ave Maria Blvd. in Ave Maria
• Dec. 20 at 8813 Tamiami Trail North in North Naples (Pelican Bay)

About Sunshine Ace Hardware

Founded in 1958 by Don Wynn and led today by his grandson, President Michael Wynn, Sunshine Ace Hardware operates 16 hardware stores, two paint stores and two gift stores in Southwest Florida. The Naples-based company is among Florida's largest family-owned home improvement retailers and one of Ace Hardware's top franchisees in America. Sunshine Ace is recognized for its helpful, red-vested associates, generous community support and vast selection of signature brands in grills, tools, hardware, plumbing, paint and supplies, lawn and garden supplies, fishing gear, gifts, propane and supplies for contractors and DIYers. The Sunshine Ace Hardware B2B Division provides commercial customers with bulk purchase savings and value-added services. Through its Helpful Hub, Sunshine Ace provides professional services such as screen repair, key cutting, color matching, delivery coordination and assembly. The company's Ace Handyman Services of Southwest Florida helps residents tackle home maintenance projects like mounting TVs and ceiling fans, repairing lanai screens, painting interiors and exteriors, updating cabinets, installing drywall and completing general carpentry services. For locations and operating hours, please visit SunshineAce.com.